So you are a beginning male teacher!

Male Teachers Rule!...maybe after the first five years

Monday, March 7, 20162:45PM-3:45PM

From this To this

Objective(s):1) Recognize the need for male teachers in primary & secondary schools2) Establish what is causing new male teachers to consider a career change3) Deconstruct the masculine expectations given to male teachers4) Summarize the importance of gender sensitivity towards students and

colleagues5) Discuss and devise plans for the retention of male teachers

About the PresentersBrandon Wilson

● Western Carolina University● Math & Science Education● 3rd Year Teacher● 7th & 8th grade Science, 8th Grade Math● NSTA, NCSTA Past Board Member,

NCCTM● [email protected]

Trent Mauney

● University of North Carolina at Greensboro● Social Studies & Science Education● 4th Year Teacher● 6th & 7th grade SS & Science● 7th grade meme committee chair● [email protected]

Advantages!?

Male Teacher

-You are the “prize”

-Easily hired

-Presented more opportunities

-Students are usually afraid of you

Beginning Teacher

-You’re scared of the kid

-Bring more to the table

-Get away with not knowing something

Mills, 2008, p.77

Disadvantages!?

Male Teacher

-You are the “prize”

-High masculine expectations

-Fear of being accused

-Work in a mostly female profession

-Lack of creativity/cutesiness

Beginning Teacher

-Low income and value

-Starting everything from scratch

-Spend a lot of hours trying to figure out what type teacher you are going to be

Mills, 2008, p.77

“...hegemonically masculine qualities...”● Be the authoritarian

○ You should be able to command the room

● Have control of unruly students○ You should be able to discipline students with a “gruff and surly” persona

● Commit to coaching something (sport or club)○ You have to coach at least one major sport and lead a subject club

● Know how to handle your emotions between work, home, and relationships○ You should be able to do quality work without the effects of your personal life

● Expect to work harder and gain more tasks even if it starts to kill you○ You should be able work long hours with no extra pay nor sleep

Mills, 2008, p.81

The Emotional StruggleAsk yourself these questions:

● What emotions do you allow your students to see?● What if a child walks up to you in the hallway and she says “Mr. Thomas! Guess

what! My mom let me go to the skating rink last night!”● What emotions do you allow your colleagues to see?● What if a female colleague told you that she needed to run home and get her

child’s homework because her 3rd grade son left it on the counter.● Do you ask for help with a trouble student or with lesson planning?● How do you handle your stress?● Do you have any nurturing instincts?

DiscussionDo you see these kinds of

issues in your daily teaching?

How do you handle them?

You are not just a teacher...You are the YES man!

● Yes, I will coach a sport or two● Yes, I will be the grade level chair● Yes, I will be the PLC chair or team leader● Yes, I will lead our community event on Saturday● Yes, I will join another subcommittee● Yes, I will get my commercial license to drive an Activity Bus● Yes, I will be the teacher that talks to the whole grade during assemblies● Yes, I will host lunch detentions in my room● Yes, you can send those students to me

Which of these things you said “yes” to actually helps a student grow academically and personally while in your classroom?

Gender Sensitivity● What do you when a girl shows up to class crying because her boyfriend just

broke up with her?● What if a female student needs to use the bathroom and she says it is an

“emergency?” Should you take it seriously? ● What you do when a female colleague has a emotional breakdown?● How do you respond to colleagues that say “Well, you’re a man! It is different

for you.”

Turn and Talk

Have you faced these issues in your class?

How do you think it has impacted your classroom environment?

DiscussionHave you faced these issues in your class?

How do you think it has impacted your classroom environment?

So what now?

CitationsMills, M., Haase, M., & Charlton, E. (2008). Being the ‘right’ kind of male teacher: The disciplining of John. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 16(1), 71-84.

SKELTON, C. (2003). Male Primary Teachers and Perceptions of Masculinity. Educational Review, 55(2), 195.

Knight, B. A., & Moore, T. (2012). Supporting Beginning Male Teachers as They Transform to Skilled Professionals. Improving Schools, 15(1), 61-72.

So you are a beginning male teacher!

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