The government is desperately trying to recruit more male teachers as research has shown they make a significant difference to the teaching of boys – AND girls.
800 boys and men were questioned about the impact of male teachers. A third of them revealed that having a male teacher as a role model at a younger age challenged them, and they were more approachable.
Too many younger boys are being steered away from harder subjects because they fear they may fail. However, if they had a male model who would be there to talk to and advise them, they may find it easier to take subjects such as languages and science.
As well as helping boys achieve their best, male teachers can also improve the behaviour of boys as they are more approachable. A boy from a broken family who has no father figure needs a male to rely on, so where better then school. Boys may listen more to a male teacher and respect them, therefore improving their behaviour as well as their attitude to school. A male may seem more approachable than a woman if a boy is being bullied for example.
However there are many reasons that men fear becoming a teacher.
They are being scared off by the lack of companionship of other male colleagues, as well as the fears of false child abuse allegations.
On the other hand women do not face as many fears.
Take the example of false child abuse allegations. Say a pretty, confident girl, disliked a male teacher, and knew others do too. She could quite easily claim that this teacher had been disrespectful, hit her, or even touched her in a way he shouldn’t have. That male teacher would almost definitely be suspended from work, therefore ruining his whole career, and he would be forced to quit and seek a quieter job.
Higher education minister Boris Johnson said that boys were losing out because they need men as role models who can provide them with more competitive lessons.
Everyone gets so hysterical about the slightest contact with a pupil and a teacher. If a parent wanted to help out on a school trip, they would all have to have Criminal Records Bureau checks. It is outrageous! Boris Johnson thinks Britain really has to turn down the hysteria of paedophile fears as it is affecting the amount of male teachers, which means boys lose out.
If panic is not turned down, this may affect the way not only boys, but also the way girls are being taught.
Mr Johnson said to attract more male teachers back into primary and secondary teaching, “we’ve got to get rid of a great deal of politically correct nonsense.