Phillip Patrick's Page

the problem of keeping male teachers for young children.

I have worked with several male teachers, ll were wonderful and great role models, but they were the exception rather than the rule.

Here is one reason why. The roles of parent and teacher are often muddled.
When children are between 6 and 15 years old parents try to be teachers, to help their children do school type work. In the early years of schooling teachers try to be parents, teaching values, setting bedtimes etc. This confusion between parenting and teaching causes problems. Male teachers do not want to act a parent to a class of children, they want to teach, so may not stay. Women teachers find it easier to act as parent during the early years. But I do not think this is a good thing, and I think that it is us, the teachers, who are most to blame.

Dr Patricia Porter