This may be a little controversial, I don't know, and I would like to hear from the educators on this site. But, I have been into some elementary schools in the recent past, and one thing is clear to me...the teacher positions are almost completely dominated by women. On the rare occasion I do see a male elementary teacher, they are usually (not always of course but my experience many times) rather effeminate. I'm not saying that in a bad way, but making the point that they have a lot of mild female qualities about them, at least in the way they deal with the kids, making their interactions with the kids almost female like. Now, I'm not saying female teachers are bad, not at all, just hear me out.

 

With that said, what I have thought for years is needed in the lower grades are more manly, "strong", authoritative type males that the kids can interact with. I don't think there is enough of that presence in the schools, and in todays society with many many fatherless homes (or absent fathers in the home) and lots of single mothers trying to do it all, I think there are a lot of kids that don't get that strong male influence that, IMHO every kid needs. I think this can help keep some kids get/stay on the right track from the get go and can greatly help curb what could have been issues with some kids down the road.

 

Agree, disagree?

 

For the pst 50-60 years, the vast majority of elementary teachers were and are white suburban mommy's with middle class values and mindsets. Nothing wrong with this.

 

The issues urban schools have are directly related to this. For the most part white suburban mommies care, love and think they can change these students. However, right or wrong, urban students values and mindsets are very, very different.

 

The two things that is generally displayed to these students by these teachers, especially black students, are judging and pitying. They will turn off these kids quicker than anything.

 

So if you say to these kids, "Do you put your feet on the furniture at home?" They say yes because they do and then are disciplined accordingly. Now the students have to learn you do not put your feet on other people's furniture. I know some will think this might be crazy, but that can be handled much better by saying " the rules at school are that we do not put our feet on the furniture." we expect everyone to follow the school rules.

 

Not judgmental, not pitying, simply letting the students know in a very firm way that school and home are different and expectations at school are clear.

 

It should not surprise, but might some, that you will never change the students from urban areas that have been in generational poverty by blaming and referring to their homes and parents because they are quite happy and believe they are normal.

 

A long way to say the real problem with white females teaching in schools, and almost everyone of them are well intentioned and want to make a difference, but really do not know why students act the way they do to a seemingly reasonable request.

My 6th year of teaching, my wife is in her 10th.

 

My first couple of years I noticed how much teachers were out, so I started documenting administration days out of office and core content teachers being out.

 

 

The principal was out 45 days one year and classroom, core content teachers in the building averaged 15.

 

It is crazy and nonsense. Take the politicians out of making policy and have the college/universities teach teachers about teaching, instead of busy work, systems that will be changed at a politicians whim, and getting fat of of out of control student loans, the education system would make a remarkable comeback.

 

Removing politicians or any professor who has never taught in a K-12 school would fix A LOT of problems. I think those jobs should have prereqs in order for you to get them. What I mean is Secretary of Education, you should have some experience TEACHING, not setting POLICY. Education Professor should have experience TEACHING in a school.

My wife is in her 9th year of teaching. I would agree with the original premise that schools would benefit from having more male teachers...however, I also agree that it's just not that appealing to young men in their 20's to pursue a career in this field, dealing with children. Ironically, the children are actually the easiest part of the job.

 

The reality is that all schools deal with a massive amount of students who have not been taught to respect adults. My wife's school is not urban by any means, but some of the stories she tells are really hard to believe. A lot of students are initially, simply victims of ridiculously selfish decisions made by their parent or guardian. They become a product of this, and soon the cycle is repeated.

 

The red tape is pretty silly too, but now I'm just ranting...so I'll stop.

This may be a little controversial, I don't know, and I would like to hear from the educators on this site. But, I have been into some elementary schools in the recent past, and one thing is clear to me...the teacher positions are almost completely dominated by women. On the rare occasion I do see a male elementary teacher, they are usually (not always of course but my experience many times) rather effeminate. I'm not saying that in a bad way, but making the point that they have a lot of mild female qualities about them, at least in the way they deal with the kids, making their interactions with the kids almost female like. Now, I'm not saying female teachers are bad, not at all, just hear me out.

 

With that said, what I have thought for years is needed in the lower grades are more manly, "strong", authoritative type males that the kids can interact with. I don't think there is enough of that presence in the schools, and in todays society with many many fatherless homes (or absent fathers in the home) and lots of single mothers trying to do it all, I think there are a lot of kids that don't get that strong male influence that, IMHO every kid needs. I think this can help keep some kids get/stay on the right track from the get go and can greatly help curb what could have been issues with some kids down the road.

 

Agree, disagree?

 

Agree my 6th grade teacher Mr. Prather was your stereotypical male dad type, and he wielded great influence over me whether he knew it or not. I appreciate him to this day!

I didn't have a male teach until I was in 6th grade. I've always thought it was odd that there aren't many male elementary school teachers. One thing I've realized it that the balance is way closer to 50/50 the higher level of education you are involved with. I mean, my college professors were a pretty even split. High school was probably 60/40. Middle school was 70/30 and elementary school, as I said, was all female.

 

 

I couldn't teach elementary school. Not a chance. I really don't like most little kids, and I have no clue how to interact with them. The world of elementary school now is so much different than when I was a kid.

 

It also seems to me that a lot of people in society always are wary of males who want to be around small children. The stereotype of them being a predator aren't exactly commonplace, but I know plenty of people who think it's weird for a man to want to work with children. I'm not saying these are smart people, because most of them aren't at all. But, I do know people that would flat out not want their young child to be taught be a male teacher, because they would say something like "Why does HE want to teach kids? Shew, I bet he's a child molester or something. Gross pervert!"

 

 

I actually think that sentence might be verbatim of something I've heard someone say about the new male elementary school teacher that was at a local school a few years ago.

A good teacher does/should step outside of day to day teaching to help that child who has a bad or no home life. Its called your passion.

 

Those that don't are just collecting a check.

 

#takeourschoolsback

My first thought when reading this is that we don't have the male teachers because of the pay.

You have to get a college degree to teach. Then you have a salary that is quite a bit lower than other jobs that also require a college degree. I understand the part about teaching being a passion. I have 4 boys. I won't encourage them to go get a college degree to become teachers, unless teaching salaries change.

My first thought when reading this is that we don't have the male teachers because of the pay.

You have to get a college degree to teach. Then you have a salary that is quite a bit lower than other jobs that also require a college degree. I understand the part about teaching being a passion. I have 4 boys. I won't encourage them to go get a college degree to become teachers, unless teaching salaries change.

 

I totally agree. Then one has to get their masters within a few years. My wife did all of this after we were married, then she got her national board certification. Looking back, I would have tried to persuade her to do something different with the investment in education. I am glad none of our kids went into teaching. Pretty sad commentary on the "profession" IMO.