Why is it statistically speaking, there is such a shoratge of male primary school terachers in great britain?

Question

Statistics show that there is a dramatic shortage of male primary school teachers, leaving a lack of male role models for children today.

Answer 1

i think there are several factors at work here---
1. MONEY MONEY MONEY... teachers just don't make the same amount of money as other professions. Men want to be the "bread" winners in the family, and teaching doesn't always allow the lifestyle that people want.

2. Teaching is not a very masculine career choice. I think there is some Male code about teachers being women. Probably because historically there haven't been many men in the profession. It's been seen as "women's work". (wiping noses, tying shoes, caring for a sick student these tend to be seen as women's work)

3. In a typical elementary classroom, there are many hugs exchanged from students to teachers. A child falls, you give them a hug. SOmeone gets their feelings hurt, you give them a hug. A child does well or improves a score, you hug them. I know several men who are very afraid to hug a child who isn't their's for fear of lawsuit. Kind of sad isn't it?

But I agree, a lot of children are growing up with out positive male role models. We have mentoring programs after school that gets the males into the building. However, until teachers are paid for their "professionalism" such as doctors and lawyers and accountants, it just will not pull in the male interest.

Answer 2

there is also a lack of male teachers here in the U.S. I had no male teachers in elementary school and only 5 in high school.

I guess it is all about the money. most people work all year and get paid for all year. teacher work 9 months and are paid 9 months. so that they are unemployed for 3 months a year

also they could start at high pay if they are engineers, doctors, lawyers...