What is your opinion of male teaching assistants

[BobbyJones28]

I am a male teaching assistant in a primary school and I have signed up here to see opinions of this..

I have a friend (close-ish) that make jokes about it being an odd job for a guy so AIBU to keep getting fed up of it now!!!

What is other peoples opinions Male Teaching Assistants ??

[Kewcumber]

Actually more than half now I come to think of it...

I really hope a good number of them go on to become primary school teachers as some of them would be fantastic at it.

[LumieresForMe]

Sorry not 'make teacher' but MALE teacher of course...

[Chippednailvarnish]

The more males the better.

Your education should prepare you for your life after education, so unless you are planning on living in a convent a lack of males is never a good thing.

[TheFillyjonk]

I manage TAs (and I have regular grumbles about the amount of people who think there should be an apostrophe there, but that's another story ). Male TAs are fantastic role models, particularly for disaffected boys in the education system. Your friend is being ridiculous and dare I say sexist about what you do. There is an unfortunate stigma attached to the primary TA role that it is a job for mums and it's not very taxing. Of course most of us know the invaluable worth of a TA and the vast range of skills they need. Don't let your friend undermine what you do - I know many pupils who wouldn't be in school today of it wasn't for the support of their male TA.

[Kewcumber]

The thing is working in a primary school is more like herding cats so anyone who thinks its all fluffy and nurturing would be in for a big surprise!

[Frontier]

People trying to pretend they don't notice or that it doesntmatter are being ridiculous. Like it or not male TAs do bring very different things to the role, the way they interact with children is completely different. Not better or worse but definitely different.It does matter because there are so few of them and there should be more. Any primary school that has one is very lucky (provided they are reasonably good at their job)

In answer to op's question I would think highly of a young man taking on the role, although I might wonder what's long term career plans ae in view of the very low earning potential

[SarniaCherie]

If you're good at your job, gender is irrelevant.
Personally I think it's nice to have a mix. There is a male TA and several male teachers at DS primary and I had two male teachers during my years at primary. I think it's important to have positive role models of both genders at school.

[BobbyJones28]

thanks for the reply - sort of why i made this thread... why would people be suspicious of males working with children i dont get it (i know what they think, but why do they think it)and i know it's only a small number that think it but still

[BIWI]

Anyone who is suspicious of males working with children is stupid, ignorant and probably reads too much of the Daily Fail.

I wish there were more men in schools, either as teachers or teaching assistants.

[TheFillyjonk]

They think it because they are narrow-minded and old-fashioned. Your job is a caring and nurturing role which is not what bigots associate with male qualities. They probably don't think much of men caring for their own children, let alone those of others.

Then there are others who think that because you are male, you must be in it for some kind of sexual thrill because men cannot possibly want to work with children or young people for any other reason. It's a disgusting and pathetic attitude.

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

It's really important to have a mix of male and female staff at a school, but in the primary years it's very uncommon.

I recently spoke with a male supply teacher who said he had sometimes had very adverse comments from some parents when he had supply contracts. He clearly loved his job but was fed up with the suspicions it aroused from a small minority.

At the primary school I know best, they don't have any male staff, but get some boys from the 6th form college in at lunchtimes to kick footballs around with the children. They all love it.

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

I'd say more men needed tbh.

[livelablove]

Yes it is a sad thing that some people would think the worst of someone wanting to work with kids especially younger ones. A few bad cases have caused this view and of course you need to be aware and take steps to protect yourself by being very careful about safeguarding rules and so on. But don't let it put you off, just laugh it off and say it's more fun than working in an office or whatever.

[shockinglybadteacher]

They listen to a lot of rap (this could just be my experience though).

[Minesril]

My husband was a primary teacher. I can definitely relate to people finding this an odd profession:
"What does he do?"
"He's a teacher."
"Oh what subject?"
"Everything - they are eight."
"Oh!!" - massive look of surprise.

It's definitely a female oriented profession which is a great shame as many of the children (deprived area) did see him as their only positive male role model.

One thing which always makes me laugh:
"Sir my mum fancies you."
"So does my mum!"
"And my mum!"

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Idont - oh, I do know!

I just find it shocking and depressing.

It is such a shitty perspective to have. We need men to be TAs - there are not many of them. It's very healthy for children to get a good balanced view.

I am so sick of this idea that men who work with children must be effeminate at best or suspect at worst. It's absolute shite, and I think it actually contributes to making us less able as a society to spot the minority of people do facilitate abuse - because we're too busy stereotyping ordinary people.

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

The shortage of male staff in nurseries is even more acute than it is in primary schools.

[myusernameis]

I think it's great to see. I wish there was more balance of male/female teaching staff at primary school level.

[starfishmummy]

Ds is at a special school. Doesn't bother me whether the TA is male or female but I know that some of the Parents who have daughters have been a bit unsure about male TAs helping their daughters with toilet needs.

[enormouse]

Dp is one, but going on to do an MA in teaching English so whether he continues in September is uncertain. He says no one commented on his gender but there was a pretty even split of staff - no other male TAs though.

He also taught guitar and art club outside his normal hours. So I assume he was pretty good at his job.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

There is a male member of staff in my DS's nursery, they all think he's great.

[Idontseeanyicegiants]

I worked with a very rare breed for a while - a male nursery nurse. He was great, the children thought he was fab and so did all of his colleagues. Some parents however were pretty awful about him, questioning why he was there, would he take the children to the toilet, things like that.
I can only speak for the 2 people I know who feel that way and say it's because they have a suspicion of men they don't know in general and unfortunately a 'peado under the bed' mentality.

[BobbyJones28]

I agree with that liveablove as no two days are the same it's excellent

[shockinglybadteacher]

Idontsee I used to work with a guy who actually owned a nursery :) He taught there as well and there were some male nursery nurses on staff too. It had been his dad's business before him and he had inherited it when his dad retired.

He was just a very laid-back person and the kids all loved him. I did ask him why he did it as I found the situation unusual (no, not because I suspected him of being a peedo! I was surprised because he basically jacked in his career to take over his dad's nursery). He just shrugged and said that kids get excited over little things in life and it was much more fun to see them than to work where he used to work...

[Idontseeanyicegiants]

Shockingly the NN i worked with had decided that children were better company and more fun than adults
He was right in most cases!