Recent media coverage has connected increasing teenage violence with a decline in the number of male teachers. Data indicates a drop in the number of male teachers from 44% some ten years ago, to fewer than 39% currently.
In primary schools the figure is even more startling, with male teachers comprising only 25%. In fact, I know of some primary schools with no male teachers on staff! Across both sectors only 28% of teachers are male.
This raises two significant questions. Why is the percentage of male teachers so low? And, why is it declining? One possibility is that teaching is not perceived by young men as masculine work. Coupled with this is the notion that male teachers may be reluctant to work in schools with a mainly female staff.
A further deterrent is the risk of accusation of inappropriate behaviour. In particular, it is very difficult being a male teacher in a primary school setting. Primary age children, particularly infants, are very tactile.
By way of illustration, I recall teaching a Prep class some years back. Sharing a story was an interesting experience, with children attempting to climb onto my knee (that’s probably what they did when their parents read to them), grab my leg, and generally invade my personal space. Yard duty would see youngsters running from miles around to hold my hand, or attempt a hug. As a young male teacher this whole scenario made me very nervous, and I would shy away for fear of accusation.
Further, the teaching profession is a fairly narrow career path. The funnel tightens as teachers near the top. This may be seen as limiting by some men. Let’s add another statistic into the mix. Over the last 10 years youth crime has risen dramatically, linked by a well-credentialed psychologist to the decline in male teachers.
Whilst there may be some connection, attributing rising teen crime to declining male teacher numbers smacks of placing yet another problem in the wrong court. Indeed, many factors are implicit in rising youth crime. The breakdown of the family unit is certainly linked to problem behaviour. Whilst there are declining numbers of male role models in schools, the same can be said for the home front. Absent fathers, critical fathers, and even just disengaged fathers impact youth behaviour. The rise of the party culture and increasing alcohol consumption among teens is also relevant.
Another issue of concern is that young people are not taught a healthy level of respect for authority. With this in mind let’s be careful not to add yet another burden on schools by implying that a lack of male teachers is directly related to increasing youth crime.
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universities decry a similar tale about their student cohort profile.
Where are the male high(er) achieving students...they are not choosing sciences(any more) or teaching..there are better - less work, higher paid opportunities...
maybe increase the pay scales for teachers..
the fly-in fly out option for any tradie in WA..or truck driver..or mining surveyor( little training on $1500 per week!) is a good place to start looking.
try getting a plumber or electrician in WA...
then there is the computer industry..easy to make the same as a teacher in the hours you choose with one or two years training where people are grateful for the efforts in problem solving...
as for 25% male in primary schools...my initial reaction was 'how did it get so high?'
in victoria it always seemed to be around 20%....with the perception most principals were male( family/maternity leave removed the need to resign to have a family only recently)