According to the TDA 4 out of 5 applications made for primary vacancies are from females. This is an issue that has worried parents and teachers for some time.
But surely it doesn’t matter whether the teacher in the classroom is male or female, what matters is that a lot of our primary schools are staffed entirely by women and that may effect some pupils.
Surely the main objective should be whether the teacher is the most effective?
But not everyone agrees with this, there are several views on why males should enter the classroom:
* Having male role models is essential for both girls and boys.
* Boys would rather turn to men when wanting to confide in someone about issues such as bullying.
* Boys sport cannot always be delivered by female teachers.
* Children need to see teaching as a career option for both sexes.
* It gives children a more balanced view of society
The above are just some reasons as to why more men are being recruited into the teaching profession, but NASUWT believe the gender of the teacher has no real impact on the students.
In my opinion more men need to teach in primary schools so that children have a balanced view of life. Its not only women that can be good primary teachers and nurture children in a learning environment.
What are your views?
Do you think the gender of a teacher affects a child?
Do you think this area is being scrutinised too much?
Have you have any experience whereby you felt your learning had a positive/negative affect because of the gender of your teachers?
Add a comment!
20 Jul 2009
Men urged to teach Primary
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I think teaching jobs should go to the best person for the school and the children at that time irrespective of gender. When I was attending interviews for my first teaching job I attended 3 in a row which all had many women and only one or two men as candidates. A man got the job for each interview I went for. I am not saying I was the right person for the jobs at all but I do feel with this publicity for men, effective, inspiring and talented women teachers maybe at a huge disadvantage.
ReplyDeleteThe media, The Government keep telling us we need more Males in primary schools. (and more primary school teachers in general) IF so, Why is it impossible for us MEN (and women) to get on PGCE courses?
ReplyDeleteHaving tried for the last 2 years to get onto course, having taught as an ELT for 6 years abroad. (and yes I have all the 'necessary' academic requirements (in fact more so) I still find myself unable to get on courses as they are over subscribed.
Surely if males are genuinely wanted in primary schools around the UK, then specific courses for males are required. Universities need to have their funding returned so they can increase the amount of places they can offer per course. Saying we need more if one thing, but it requires the government to put its hand in its pocket and take action.
Unfortunately the truth of the matter is that men will always lose out to women when it comes to professions involving children.
ReplyDeleteDue to the 'few' cases involving children and 'men', candidates who pass everything yet still fail the 'gender' test will always fail to be recruited regardless of all the do good comments relating to more men being needed in primary schools.
Yes, I may be a male so my point could be argued against just because I'm a male, but the fact of the matter is that my point still stands.
We can pass numerous courses, gain necessary qaulifications, and more importantly have Enhanced CRB Disclosures with not a single thing wrote on them (not even a parking ticket), yet just because we are male we simply get turned over for a woman.
Then of course the excuses "if you just had a bit more experience" (that one I especially love, how can you get experience if nobody will give you a chance?).
So until men are actually given priority like other minorities, I personally believe that the only jobs men will hold will be headteachers (if they're lucky).
Disgruntled BA Honours Childhood Studies (MALE) Student
I actually find it really annoying when I hear about the shortage of men in Primary. I have 10 years of EFL teaching experience, good references and good teaching practices and got A's in all of my course work essays, but I can't find a job.
ReplyDeleteNow I can't even go on the dole (as I wasn't here last year) and have no income and no promise of income.
I've been offered a job at an international school in Japan, on the basis of a personal recommendation...not well paid and no pension. As I can't get induction here I'm wondering if I should take it.
I can sympathise with anonymous above, but have to say there are far more NQT's than there are jobs. I'm shocked to find myself in this position, after giving up a well paid job and great lifestyle in Japan for unemployment.
Everyone told me about the shortage of men in primary and that I was sure to find something. I got emails every week from the government encouraging me to teach, now I'm ready and believe I have so much to give. But may have to take a badly paid job in another country just to keep the wolf from the door.
I'm really not happy to keep hearing about the shortage of men in primary. It gives people the impression that there are actually jobs for men to take up when they graduate. Talking to people on my course I'm not alone. Many of us have given up our careers elsewhere for nothing.
I can only imagine it's even worse for unemployed female teachers!
At the primary level, it is the comfort level of the child with the teacher which is more important to develop a lasting and unbiased teacher- student relationship. Sex of the educator does not matter really ; however in my opinion and experience, a male child is more comfortable with a female teacher and vice versa. As a student myself, I did feel that subjects like Science (especially Physics and Chemistry) and Maths can be more effortlessly taught by a male teacher, while social sciences and languages are womens' forte.
ReplyDeleteAlthough i do agree that the job should go to the best person i also think that children do respond differently to a male in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteAs a male Nursery Nurse who works in a preschool & has 14 years post qualification experience i have found that parents as well as their children enjoy having that male influence on their childrens daily life.
A lot of children grow up without much,if any,daily contact with men whether it be because their father is working long hjours or isnt part of the family unit & so having a man in the classroom for them is seen as an good thing.
There is still a problem attracting more men into Childcare whether it be as Teachers or Nursery Nurses & if the Goverment really do want to redresss this balance they need to help more.
The comments above suggest there is descrimination against males trying to enter the primary teaching profession. I, however, observe positive descrimination in favour of male teachers as they, very quickly, rise up the career ladder, become head teachers far quicker than women and then go on to work as highly paid advisors! Nevertheless, I agree that more men should be working in the primary sector as their higher salary expectations would push up the pay rates for us all!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is fairly worrying. I have recently given up a successful and well paid career in audio engineering to become a teacher. I'm currently working as a T.A. before applying for teacher training courses next year, but will there be any jobs for me when I graduate?
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with other comments above that the TDA and Government can tell us as much as they like what is needed (i.e. male primary teachers), but until the university places are available it's pointless. Oh, and I see tuition fees are going up again. Thanks Labour, keeping it real...
Dito!!! I too went into a teaching career based on the premise of an abundance of jobs for male teachers...and not just male, a 30 something male! To cut a long story short, I graduated with honours, was awarded the university medal from the supposed best rated University in the country and still remain unemployed. Oh yes I can get some casual work but there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I actually stayed on at uni to do a PhD and to (get this) teach students to be teachers! The system is flawed and I am now considering other career options!
ReplyDeleteI certainly think that it should be the best person for the job.
ReplyDeleteHowever able males are not going to be enticed into teaching if they percieve promotion to be blocked with female heads rulling out male candidates for deputy head posts.
I read recently in a teacher magazine - on the letters page - a woman teacher saying that when she went along for deputy head posts she was beaten to it by a male candidate each time !
I have found the opposite.
Every time I attended d/ head interviews with a proven track record, a vision and skills to add value and develop the school with the other stakeholders and part way through my NPQH I have been beaten by younger females.
The feedback has been non existent or too general to be of much use !
In the four schools nearest to where I live - 15 years ago all the heads and most of the deputys were male. In 2009 not one of the heads are male and just one of the deputy heads are male.
I really don't know where they are getting their information that there is a shortage of teachers as from my experience there is in fact a shortage of jobs!! I am stuck doing supply at the moment as I am unable to secure a permenant job despite applying for almost every job going in a 50 mile radius for the past year. Feedback from schools is always that they had a very large number of applicants.
ReplyDeleteOn the male teacher front I have come to realise that there are a lot more male primary teachers than I thought. Almost every school I have worked in has atleast 1 male teacher. One school I worked in had about 4 male teachers and 6 female teachers. I don't believe, as many others have mentioned, that the sex of a teacher makes any difference to the quality of a childs education.
I have also filled in application forms which only ask for your initials and surname so they can't work out applicants gender.