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
I think men can, and usually are, just as good as women in teaching any grade. My daughter had a very positive experience with a male teacher in second grade. I think it helps kids learn to relate in a positive way to men, as well as, women. The same is true at the high school level. Students benefit from having both male and female teachers.
ReplyDeleteAs for the money, I understand how hard it can be. I have been a single parent for the past 8 years. My income at a small private school is very small and, like you pointed out, many other teachers have spouses that are earning the majority of the family income. It gets really tough. I'm not sure what the answer is except summer jobs and, for me, trying to get a job at a better paying school.
At my elementary school we have six male teachers. I can tell that some of my students don't have a strong male role model in their life. Some students appear to be hesitant or cautious of a male teacher. I no longer grow facial hair because some students later in life told me they were very intimidated when they first met me (at the time I was their first male teacher). Apparently having a goatee equals scary guy to little ones. I try and watch my tone and soften my expressions to make my students feel comfortable. Sometimes life has taught kids that men are scary and mean. Having a male teacher in school will change that perception. In short, yes we absolutely need men in the primary grades.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question. I can really relate to this one. I was the first male elementary teacher in Shenandoah County Public Schools after the elementary grades were placed in a separate school. I started in 1980 at Sandy Hook. When fellow staff saw me some assumed I was a custodian, maintenance worker or a PE teacher. Once they found out I was teaching fourth grade, they were happy to see a male "role model" that students could look up to. I have to admit I was given more than my fair share of the "challenging" students because of the stereotype that a male could handle them. I enjoyed teaching at the elementary level for six years before moving up to the middle school. I was surrounded by great supporting staff and looking back, the students and parents were really great! If I had to relive any of my 35 years, I would go back to my elementary days!
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