Male Teachers at Primary Level

[Cb21]

Hi Folks,

I am just enquiring and interested in Public opinion on this matter. I am a guy who is currently looking at doing my PGCE and QTS in September. As a guy I am wondering what your opinions are of having male teachers in the classroom. Do you have experience of such? Do you have male primary teachers in your DD'S school?
Most of what I have read from such related articles is from many years ago and I'm just looking for an upto date and current opinion. I would appreciate all views positive and negative (as I know there may be some) but I want a rounded view of public opinion. Thanks a lot.

Purple Daisies

You're right, it doesn't. But in the schools I've worked in (the most challenging areas in London) they're the ones most lacking.

You haven’t explained what you mean by an “alpha male” in the context of a classroom.

My DS is in year one and had a male teacher in the first term as paternity cover for his male teacher who was taking extended paternity leave! Great role modelling and I must admit I was very pleased to see he had a male role model in a caring role. His previous female teacher was amazing though so he has big boots to fill. But seems very popular with the kids.

@PurpleDaisies

Someone both able to command the complete respect of even the most challenging pupils school-wide, but someone who also displays the emotional and general intellect good enough to resonate with the children on all levels - from the silly games they love to play at home, to the music they listen to. They're rare, but that's why they're 'Alpha'. As someone else mentioned, they often times supplant the father role for these children.

I'm not put off by the definition above. All I have to do is look at the amount of crime in inner-city areas by young disaffected boys (starting younger and younger might I add) to know that these roles are missing in young boys' lives. There's a wealth of academic research on the same topic.

It's not just any man that can make these differences, it has to be a specific subset.

There's a reason why lots of boys love their PE teachers. But too many of these types of teacher are just that, PE teachers. We need more like this, but in all subjects.

"Someone both able to command the complete respect of even the most challenging pupils school-wide, but someone who also displays the emotional and general intellect good enough to resonate with the children on all levels - from the silly games they love to play at home, to the music they listen to."
That perfectly describes the best teacher I've worked with ... only one problem they were female!

I didn't say it was gender specific! We just need more of the MALE type in schools!

Please check my previous post - I said my best headteacher was a female and precisely as I described above.

Facts and attention to detail matter.

How is it a "MALE" type?

Growing up we only had 1 male teacher in my primary. My mum works there still and no men now.

My sons school however has male teachers in reception and year 4 and until a this year, year 6. Male TAs in Yr 1, 2 and 4. Deputy Head is also male.

Both my sons LOVED reception teacher, we do too as he is a lovely man. My youngest is in year 1 and wants to be a teacher like Mr. x when he grows up!

@Norestformz

I said we need more of THE male type of alpha. Yes, there is a female alpha too!

There are too many beta males/females bringing up today's children. In middle class settings this is fine, as they have so many structures in place that will facilitate their success. However, in the many challenging environments, a strong head/hand is needed to drive the level of standards required for children to succeed.

They're the very"type" we don't need in teaching!

@Norestformrz

You just said the person I described above was the best teacher you'd ever met. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?

Yes I'm sure but I'm not sure you know what ALPHA means

I'm sure I do, but let's not get mixed up with terms. I described the kind of person I'm talking about, and I've said that there are alpha males/females. They usually end up as quality head teachers after a while.

It's well known that there is a dearth of said talent in the primary teaching industry.

In my children’s pre school they were all females. In reception, year 1 and year 2 it is all females again. There is a male teacher doing a placement in my eldest’s class at the moment and he likes him but not because he’s a man he’s not mentioned that. I wish there were more male staff in the early years and primary setting as it seems unbalanced. My good friends husband finished his pgce and struggled to find a job he’s now a careers advisor. This was a while ago now.

"a man tending to assume a dominant or domineering role in social or professional situations."

@Norestformrz

www.dictionary.com/e/slang/alpha-female/

"An alpha female is a powerful and successful woman, often in a leadership role. Alpha females are often described as intimidating by men and women alike."

I don’t think primary teachers should be intimidating.

Actually, I don’t think any teachers should be intimidating.

I don’t think primary teachers should be intimidating
Me neither.
I think a good teacher can create a feeling where students don't want to let them down, the students care what the teacher thinks and wouldn't want to be in trouble with them. But that's not intimidating, it's good behaviour management and good relationships working together.

Generally I find that intimidating teachers get compliance but lack positive relationships.

@allofyou

I wouldn't focus on the word intimidating. The fact that they are described as such is more by people who feel intimidated and are usually beta. I never had a complaint from a pupil/parent that I intimidated their child. Nor did the headteacher whom I described in an earlier post. What we did have however, is positive, driven classrooms and results.

@LolaSmiles

Yes, that's precisely what I mean.

What are you defining as a “beta” then? There’s no reason why someone who is not an alpha male/female couldn’t achieve an atmosphere like Lola has described.

@purpledaisies

In the most challenging environments, non-Alphas will find achieving this classroom environment more difficult. We all know teachers that just weren't cut out to command respect from their class, no matter how hard they tried. Doesn't mean they're not alpha, but it's more likely to mean that than not.

That being said, I don't think anyone is predisposed to being one classification forever. They are a set of tendencies that can be changed/enhanced. I also believe you can be one personality in one environment and another in another.

EPJ
As a form tutor I have had complaints from parents who have called because their child is intimated by colleagues.
I have that firm behaviour management and positive relationships approach and I'm not what you may describe as an alpha teacher.

I would disagree on some people not cut out to have respect regardless of what they do. There's two levels of respect, one is basic human respect and the expectation that students are polite, don't disrupt learning, speak with courtesy etc, the other comes from developing relationships. The second comes with time, the former isn't negotiable. If someone was having difficulty with the former then I'd be asking questions about SLT and school culture.

To be honest, I've not met anyone who would be incapable of getting a deeper personal respect regardless of what's they do, but have met people who aren't willing to use a range of strategies to get there.

@LolaSmiles

It's fine that you disagree. My view is an unpopular one in teaching. One of my good friends runs a London school who promotes and believes exactly the same as me and their performance (in the MOST challenging environment) is the highest in the country.

Rather than Alpha teachers, they have an Alpha philosophy that is imparted from the senior leadership that permeates the school. That way, a teacher's individual personality is removed from the equation. Everyone does and says the same thing in lessons. Sounds hard to believe, but it works. It wouldn't be a good approach for middle-class settings.