More "men" won't fix anything as long as the entire system is geared against them. All you will get are men completely willing to go along with the globohomo agenda.
I absolutely agree that it would be beneficial for everyone for more men to enter the teaching profession. But I have not once seen you grapple with the *reason* for the decline in the number of male teachers. Teaching was, for many obvious reasons, one of the main avenues for female employment, period, in the 19th century, and that only increased in the 20th. And as more women entered the profession, more men left it. Teaching became, both culturally and in reality, a "feminine" profession, and therein lies the rub: American men tend to define masculinity, first and foremost, in opposition to femininity. Any characteristic or occupation in which women show increased interest or aptitude, over time, inevitably shows a near equal decline in interest from men. Any college of ed in this country would be overjoyed to see more male candidates. I see principals in my local school district who are doing everything they can to attract male paraprofessionals and lead them toward obtaining teaching certification (a pathway much quicker and less expensive than a traditional 4-year degree). *Men, by and large, don't want to be teachers.* (And, to be clear: increasingly, not a lot of women, do, either! And given the working conditions, I don't blame any of them!)
And then, of course, "feminine" professions in our society tend to merit low pay. Low pay, very understandably, just adds to the reasons education is an unattractive career for men. Very rightly, it makes many women educators and their supporters suspicious to see men advocating raises for teachers only in the context of increasing male employment in the profession. Teachers - male and female - have *always* deserved more than the paltry wages allowed them in the majority of states in this country. Given that advocating for raises absent accompanying efforts to change the cultural definitions of masculinity is unlikely to drive any real increase in the number of male educators, what would you prescribe? How do we encourage men in our culture to define masculinity on its own terms, separate and apart from the feminine?
Interesting how higher pay and more benefits is floated as a way to get men into teaching. Meanwhile the country is ok with keeping things the same because teaching is seen as "women's work" and why pay women more, right?. If the pay grade is good enough for women then why not for men? Anyway, this Youtube channel is dedicated to interviewing mostly ex-teachers from around the country and exploring the reasons why so many teachers are quitting these days. The pictures they paint are pretty dismal;
Just got our 2 boys’ teacher assignments and thought of you. One of them has the second male teacher they’ve ever had. This is for fifth grade and his one and only other time was in pre-K Montessori at age 3. My nine-year-old has yet to get a male teacher.
I have a 15yo son who would make a terrific teacher. He loves kids and is so patient with them. When I think about the perfect job for him, it's middle school science teacher + basketball coach. But between the dismal pay and lack of autonomy, it just doesn't seem responsible for us to encourage him to pursue that path.
Couldn’t agree more that we need more male teachers but it’s essentially an unfunded mandate and the commenters here are in the minority. Broadly speaking the US doesn’t value education enough to pay for it. Unlike health care where we pay the most for the least compared to other developed countries in education we pay the least for the least. I am fortunate to have male friends who teach K-12 and they all went abroad to consulate school jobs first where they could bank funds to afford to survive on teaching salaries in the US. I’m optimistic we are at an inflection point in the downward spiral that has been public education. It used to be if a town wanted a teacher they built a house for them to live in. How about 0% federally backed mortgages for teachers and 0% student loans - as well as significant salary bumps?
my kids private school also fails to recognize the issue and has no plan..I think they consider it dumb luck to find any male applying...without competitive salaries to draw national talent...independent schools follow the public school trend here..
There is a meme going around FB these days that says we are reaping the policy of having the football coach teach civics...
I get what you are trying to say. Really.
But my sons (2 of them) and my daughter (just one of her) need GOOD teachers. Teachers who SEE them.
Most, if not all of my male teachers were just awful. Sexist, demeaning, told me I was stupid, hated it when I was smart in class and generally could not deal with a smart girl.
And yeah...I was in school in the Regan administration and it was NOT better.
More Misters, Please
More "men" won't fix anything as long as the entire system is geared against them. All you will get are men completely willing to go along with the globohomo agenda.
I absolutely agree that it would be beneficial for everyone for more men to enter the teaching profession. But I have not once seen you grapple with the *reason* for the decline in the number of male teachers. Teaching was, for many obvious reasons, one of the main avenues for female employment, period, in the 19th century, and that only increased in the 20th. And as more women entered the profession, more men left it. Teaching became, both culturally and in reality, a "feminine" profession, and therein lies the rub: American men tend to define masculinity, first and foremost, in opposition to femininity. Any characteristic or occupation in which women show increased interest or aptitude, over time, inevitably shows a near equal decline in interest from men. Any college of ed in this country would be overjoyed to see more male candidates. I see principals in my local school district who are doing everything they can to attract male paraprofessionals and lead them toward obtaining teaching certification (a pathway much quicker and less expensive than a traditional 4-year degree). *Men, by and large, don't want to be teachers.* (And, to be clear: increasingly, not a lot of women, do, either! And given the working conditions, I don't blame any of them!)
And then, of course, "feminine" professions in our society tend to merit low pay. Low pay, very understandably, just adds to the reasons education is an unattractive career for men. Very rightly, it makes many women educators and their supporters suspicious to see men advocating raises for teachers only in the context of increasing male employment in the profession. Teachers - male and female - have *always* deserved more than the paltry wages allowed them in the majority of states in this country. Given that advocating for raises absent accompanying efforts to change the cultural definitions of masculinity is unlikely to drive any real increase in the number of male educators, what would you prescribe? How do we encourage men in our culture to define masculinity on its own terms, separate and apart from the feminine?
Interesting how higher pay and more benefits is floated as a way to get men into teaching. Meanwhile the country is ok with keeping things the same because teaching is seen as "women's work" and why pay women more, right?. If the pay grade is good enough for women then why not for men? Anyway, this Youtube channel is dedicated to interviewing mostly ex-teachers from around the country and exploring the reasons why so many teachers are quitting these days. The pictures they paint are pretty dismal;
https://www.youtube.com/@TeacherTherapy
Being a male high school teacher is risking career and reputational suicide, though I wish it weren't so: https://jakeseliger.com/2014/09/08/why-dont-more-men-go-into-teaching-fear-of-the-accusation/
We should add a National service teaching corps that recruits retirees to teach middle school and high school. Of both genders.
Just got our 2 boys’ teacher assignments and thought of you. One of them has the second male teacher they’ve ever had. This is for fifth grade and his one and only other time was in pre-K Montessori at age 3. My nine-year-old has yet to get a male teacher.
I have a 15yo son who would make a terrific teacher. He loves kids and is so patient with them. When I think about the perfect job for him, it's middle school science teacher + basketball coach. But between the dismal pay and lack of autonomy, it just doesn't seem responsible for us to encourage him to pursue that path.
Couldn’t agree more that we need more male teachers but it’s essentially an unfunded mandate and the commenters here are in the minority. Broadly speaking the US doesn’t value education enough to pay for it. Unlike health care where we pay the most for the least compared to other developed countries in education we pay the least for the least. I am fortunate to have male friends who teach K-12 and they all went abroad to consulate school jobs first where they could bank funds to afford to survive on teaching salaries in the US. I’m optimistic we are at an inflection point in the downward spiral that has been public education. It used to be if a town wanted a teacher they built a house for them to live in. How about 0% federally backed mortgages for teachers and 0% student loans - as well as significant salary bumps?
As a former teacher (at 2-year and 4-year institutions) in social psych, stats, and methods: yes to all of this.
The need for more Mr’s extends to social sciences, too - men are rapidly dwindling when it comes to post-baccalaureate degrees.
This causes serious problems not only in representation of profession but also representation of *perspective*.
my kids private school also fails to recognize the issue and has no plan..I think they consider it dumb luck to find any male applying...without competitive salaries to draw national talent...independent schools follow the public school trend here..
There is a meme going around FB these days that says we are reaping the policy of having the football coach teach civics...
I get what you are trying to say. Really.
But my sons (2 of them) and my daughter (just one of her) need GOOD teachers. Teachers who SEE them.
Most, if not all of my male teachers were just awful. Sexist, demeaning, told me I was stupid, hated it when I was smart in class and generally could not deal with a smart girl.
And yeah...I was in school in the Regan administration and it was NOT better.
Scott Galloway sucks, but I'm glad he's as coherent and, honestly, brave as you on this particular issue. Nicely done!