My biggest challenge was often financial. This was evident right out of college. Most of the female teachers had husbands with better paying jobs and better health care. They would complain about salaries but still have money to spend on things for their students while I was trying to provide for a growing family and having to pay up to $800/month for our health insurance on my salary alone.
Students with their parents would come to me at the beginning of every year and exclaim "We've never had a male teacher before" Well, it is 1st grade I would think. Or second. But still it was a big deal. I never had anyone direct anything negative towards me, and I didn't listen if anyone had anything negative to say.
One bit of discrimination that I may have faced is the idea that because I am a male I would be more strict than your average teacher. I don't think that could have been further from the truth.
So, what are you thoughts on having a guy for a teacher in the primary grades? For? Against? No experience?
Rhode Island College Article on Teachers in Elementary School
