Male Education Students: Guys, We Need More Teachers!

More male teachers are needed in Ontario.

Male students studying to teach children in primary schools might be able to fill a glaring gap in Ontario’s education system.

Nipissing University Schulich School of Education professors Dr. Douglas Gosse and Dr. Mike Parr have released a new report that explores the issues faced by male teachers in the primary/junior classrooms in Ontario.

The study, titled The Professional Journey of Male Primary-Junior Teachers in Ontario, points to the hurdles that male teachers face; such as being role models, teacher expectations regarding boys, and effective approaches and strategies for teaching boys.

Statistics Canada’s data shows that only 28% of all teachers are male, while only 10% of primary-junior level teachers are male.

After three years of research the report’s findings indicate:

91.3% of survey respondents feel that more male primary/junior teachers should be hired
12.7% of survey respondents indicated that they had been suspected of inappropriate contact with pupils

When asked whether they felt that male primary-junior teachers have certain unique traits or qualities that they bring to early childhood education, 90.8%, assert that they do, with many using familial metaphors such as “father figure” and “big brother.”