Questioning Assumptions About Male Educators Janice Wallace, PhD Educational Policy Studies University of Alberta
How can we increase the number of male elementary teachers and male role models to enhance the learning success of boys… What is driving the high interest in this question? Is there a clear link between the learning performance of boys and male teachers?
There are a complex set of inter-related economic, social, and political factors that are at play in the choices males and females make when considering a career in education.
Males contemplating teaching positions that are most stereotypically attached to female interests are caught between the feminized expectations for working with young children traditional masculine ideals and unchallenged homophobia that fuels fears about men working with young children.
Male elementary teachers often compensate by assuming a hyper- masculinized persona (Connell, 1989, Francis & Skelton, 2001) or simply leave teaching to find jobs in more traditional grades for male teachers (Ferguson, 2005).
Making the decision to become a teacher…
Gender/Age Cross-tabulation Age Total Gender Male Count % within Gender % within Age Female Count % within Gender % within Age Total Count % within Gender % within Age 100.0
Did you consider other professions? Males … 61/64 or 95% considered and many had prepared for or participated in other professions/jobs. None said that they always wanted to be a teacher. Females … 219/277 or 79% said they had considered and some had prepared for or participated in other professions. 4 said they always knew they wanted to be a teacher
What influences the decision to become a teacher?
Positive Influences for Becoming a Teacher Positive Influences FemalesMales NumberPercentNumberPercent Parents Relatives Neighbours Friends Elementary Teacher(s) Secondary Teacher(s) Guidance Counselors(s) Media Other
Negative Influences for Becoming a Teacher Negative Influences FemalesMales NumberPercentNumberPercent Parents Relatives Neighbours Friends Elementary Teacher(s) Secondary Teacher(s) Guidance Counselor(s) Media Other
What do beginning teachers say about encouraging more males to think about teaching?
Suggestions from beginning teachers for attracting more males to elementary teaching 56%of Females 156/ % of Males N=38/64 Increase status/pay 19 % 28 % Break down stereotypes1015 Recruit through guidance courses, media, visits to classes, etc.148 Change work environment to reflect male norms/provide support/services8.515 Stress positive role of teacher in elementary9.58 Preferential admission to elementary/Incentives2.510 Change program to include placements at all levels68 Stress benefits of work environment30 Fear of predatory charges40 Meet women35
QUESTIONS ?