Razoo Causes: Male Teachers

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Cause Last Updated:
November 05, 2008

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Education, men

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According to NEA research, just 24.9 percent of the nation's 3 million teachers are men. When half of students are male, this is a major problem. Situation: The above statistic says it all. Men don't fill enough of our nation's teaching positions. And over the last two decades, the ratio of males to females in teaching has steadily declined. The number of male teachers now stands at a 40-year low. This situation bodes ill on many accounts, most chiefly because students often connect best with teachers of their own sex, who understand the unique features and traits of their sex. This situation is doubtless one of the reasons why America's boys are pe...

According to NEA research, just 24.9 percent of the nation's 3 million teachers are men. When half of students are male, this is a major problem.

Situation: The above statistic says it all. Men don't fill enough of our nation's teaching positions. And over the last two decades, the ratio of males to females in teaching has steadily declined. The number of male teachers now stands at a 40-year low. This situation bodes ill on many accounts, most chiefly because students often connect best with teachers of their own sex, who understand the unique features and traits of their sex. This situation is doubtless one of the reasons why America's boys are performing so poorly and dropping out of school so frequently. Thirty years ago men represented 58 percent of the undergraduate student body. Now they're a minority at 44 percent. One key contributor is a lack male role models who understand and can connect with young men. On this matter, America approaches a crisis--and no one, least of all an egalitarian public, seems to care.

Statistics: The percentage of male teachers in elementary schools has fallen regularly since 1981 - that year, it reached an all-time high of 18 percent. Today, a scant 9 percent of elementary school teachers are men. Likewise, the percentage of males in secondary schools has fluctuated over the years, but now stands at its lowest level (35 percent). The NEA asked the nation's teachers to select, from a list of options, the principal reason they originally decided to become a teacher. The influence of a teacher in elementary or secondary school was the 4th most frequently chosen reason (32 percent). Most notably, teachers under 30 gave this reason with greater frequency than did teachers over 30 (39% vs. 31%). Clearly, the shortage of male teachers is a cyclical problem, and can only be solved by the decision of many men to invest in boys by teaching at all scholastic levels.

YOU SHOULD CARE because boys, long the overlooked group in American society, are dropping out of school at record rates. Schools need male teachers to come and invest in youth for the betterment of society. Who will answer the call--will you?

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