It is common knowledge that among elementary school teachers there is a woman majority, and this was unjustly offset in the past due to the administrative positions being held my mostly men. In 1964 the civil rights act was passed and those higher paying positions were opened up to all genders, but for sexist reasons the lower paying teacher positions remained mostly women. These positions, held by women, are critical to all youths development and we should be shared by both genders.
There are many experts who will say that men in these positions is a horrible idea, that these men are probably pedophiles. I too had these preconceived notions until read an article on the new york times website about a perfectly capable male kindergarten teacher.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/26/nyregion/a-woman-s-work-don-t-tell-that-to-this-kindergarten-teacher.html?pagewanted=2
This article along with discussions in class has shown me that my preconceived notions that females are more nurturing than males is oppressing males who are capable to teach young children. Only 9% of elementary school teachers are male according to a study released by the National Education Association. Perhaps one day society will look past the "differences" men and women have when it comes to education, just like we have looked past how women are just as good as men in higher paying jobs such as politics and medicine.
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Richard -
ReplyDeleteYou've totally hit on a hotbed issue in the teaching community. There is definitely a hierarchy going on. Just look at the title changes as you move up the education ladder - from Preschool Teacher to College Professor. Even between community college and university there is this divide. A lot of times I am referred to as an "instructor" while my 4-year school colleagues are "professors" and the titles carry a lot of cultural baggage.
If you'd like my to show you how to formally hyperlink to stories that might help the form of your blog.
As far as the length, I think you could have expanded this a little more. Maybe a little compare/contrast between the amount of male elementary school teachers to professors at the collegiate-level? Maybe look at the breakdown of our own program here at SCC? Just a couple of suggestions.
However, the topic is right on point for our class. Keep up the good work.
- Ruth