20 yr old male TA in primary - what would you think?

[newromantics]

Just that, really! DS is thinking of becoming a primary teacher and wants to get some TA experience. He's been invited for interview today at a local school (last day before Christmas break so it'll be manic!) to start next term.

However he was worrying this morning that he's not the usual 'TA type' and I must admit my only experience of TAs is of older women who've perhaps had their own kids already etc. I think he'd be great but obviously I'm biased!

What would you think if your Year 1 child had a TA like my DS?

Sadly I think the fact he has a Penis would sadly rank him below less experienced females. Sadly there is still a lot of prejudice in people (men and women) seeking careers outside of the stereotype.

Most of dc1 teachers(female) hadnt had dc of their own anyway. Ib fact i think it wasnt until y5 where had a job share of 2 with kids. Several had own dc since
Dc2 again i think just reception teacher already had dc.

one of the tricky teachers for dc had had dc between having dc a secondtime - it didnt really make her more understanding - the kid was only a few years old. Generally speacking the teachers kids seem to be on more placid side.

a teacher could be qualified and in school from 22 any way.

@SecondUsername4me Not if this thread, and my experience in schools is anything to go by.

Absolutely not my experience

i have worked with useless, useless male teachers who have had to be carried (planning done for them, loads of support) by their wider female teams- and SLT do NOTHING because ‘the kids looooove him’

male staff in schools are treated as absolute saints imo and snapped up

He got the job 😁

Buzzing for him

Oh brilliant!

I wouldn't be happy as a parent and would be requesting my child be moved to another class. I'm pleased for him that he's got ambition but 20 is far too young and I would wonder why a male of that age wants to be around children so young. No offence to him personally of course I've no idea who he is or what he's like. I'm sure he's lovely but it wouldn't suit my DC or I.

20 isn't too young to be a TA, how else do people get experience working with kids if they don't take jobs like this?

It's so incredibly sad that males who want to work with kids are judged based purely on their sex.

That's fantastic news! I have a few male friends who went into teaching straight from university, and another who went later via a school based training scheme. They find it a rewarding job.

I am sure he will get thorough safeguarding training, but please stress to him that the procedures are also about keeping himself safe from allegations. You have seen on here that some people are deeply suspicious of young men working in schools (some have had bad experiences, I can see that). There may be people looking for him to slip up, and he needs to be incredibly vigilant following procedures.

I hope he has an amazing time in the job!

Primary schools need more male teachers/TAs in the classroom in my opinion. It’s not good for boys to be taught by mostly women. They need role models that are men as they can often relate to them better.

That’s fantastic, well done !
Ive spent 20 years working in schools and a good male TA / teacher is a great asset,

That’s fantastic news, primary schools in particular need more male staff and it’s great experience for him if he’s thinking of training to teach (because working in a school is a real eye opener to what it’s like - not at all how we remember as pupils or even parents!). Well done to him. I hope it’s the start of a long and interesting career for him.

And hopefully the school would decline your request. If they did as you asked they’d possibly be open to a case of sex discrimination from the TA.

20 isn’t too young. People start teacher training at 18yo!

@LonelynSad At my school we wouid definitely decline your request to move your child to another class. Bottom line, if you don't like the school's choices, move your child to another school. Otherwise respect their decisions and give all the staff a chance.

I think it would be fab. Males are often under represented at Primary School and I think some children feels more comfortable with males.

Fantastic!

I work in early years which is a predominantly female workplace however we have 3 male key workers who are amazing with the children, perfect for the rough and tumble, being extremely loud and of course the usual football games in the playground.

Great news! I'm always happy when my son (and daughter but particularly for my DS) when they've had male primary teachers/TAs - nice to have a male role model amongst a (fantastic) cohort of predominantly female staff.

Hurray! The kids will love him, my male relative is a primary teacher early 20s, the kids adore him! Best of luck to your son Xxx

Fantastic!

My son had a young male TA, tattoos, piercings, worked evenings in a pub. Think he raised a few eyebrows initially, the children loved him and everyone was devastated when he quit - pay was too low. TAs deserve to be paid a lot more.

My DC's have had a lot of male teachers from nursery at 2, TAs and teachers. All have been fantastic and it is a shame we don't have more.

Would you also be unhappy with a 20 year old trainee teacher on a BEd placement?

That's fantastic news OP!

@LonelynSad Do you realise that you could have a 21 year old as a class teacher? 20 for a TA is not too young. Far better to have someone young and enthusiastic rather than older and jaded. As for questioning why a young male should want to be around young children! I think your attitude is narrow minded and really disappointing. I would hope that no school would entertain a parent's request for their child
to change classes for this reason.

Woo congratulations to him! 🥳

Fabulous! DD started out at 17 as a TA in a specialist school, she is now a qualified teacher and the school's trauma lead. She hopes to make SLT this year.

Our school has plenty of very young TAs clearly on experience before going off to study etc, and it's not unusual for them to be men.

And frankly, from a career perspective, he'll do well because it never ceases to amaze me how a primary school can have a staff mix that is 90% women and yet 2 of the 4 leadership positions will be men.... That's not to say the men aren't great, they are but it does make me roll my eyes a bit. (And I do think that a man who decides to work in primary schools is more likely to be extremely dedicated as they will have to take some heat before making that decision in the first place so that might also be part of it - they're career driven and very committed from the start rather than just falling into it).