Why men don't teach elementary school

minusgreen · 2014-04-30T08:31:52+00:00

I as a male work in elementary school.

I got a complaint that a little girl was sitting in my lap when I was reading a book for her. That is only something that I can't do.

I'm not allowed to enter the girls changing room when we have gym class. Many headaches have been had trying to look for female teachers to help me out.

I'm not allowed to help a child in the bathroom. Believe it or not but many six year olds can't wipe themselves. So when they sit there yelling I have to look for another teacher.

When I leave work late I'm terrified to see the children outside of the school since I know that they innocently will hug me and want to play with me if they see me on the street. That could ruin me if someone sees it.

The problem is that many of the other teachers also think it's annoying that I have to get them to do these mundane things. They have their own classes to deal with. I understand that. But it's not up to me. I don't want to be a burden. But I must follow these rules.

DankJemo · 2014-04-30T12:09:52+00:00

I find this odd, I had two male elementary teachers back in the early 90's. They were great with boys. They seemed to understand and were much more active and hands on teachers. I had quite a few female teachers and most of them just expected boys to sit down and shut the hell up. In fact, two of these female teachers 1st and 3rd grade teachers wanted my parents to put me on drugs to "control" me better. My parents thankfully declined.

Funny thing is one of those male teachers turned out to be gay, which I discovered much later in life. If that got out in my rural town no one would have wanted him working with any of their children. It's a good thing it didnt become common knowledge until after he retired, because the school would have lost a very dedicated teacher.

Cross_of_Coronado · 2014-04-30T15:00:23+00:00

I had a male teacher in elementary school (Volksschule in germany) He was the greatest ever and did everything to make stuff and science interesting.

PriscillaPresley · 2014-04-30T07:29:09+00:00

If we're going to say that the wage gap is primarily because the career choices of women are less financially driven, I think you also need to consider the possibility that, while this sexist behavior exists, very few men want to go to at least 4 years of college to make a teacher's salary.

TorontoMike · 2014-04-30T16:26:44+00:00

Well beyond the view that all men are "Unconfirmed child molesters". It is not a very equal workplace, like any where women dominate. There is class system in place and as a man you are always on the bottom of it. "Everybody is Equal", unless it is dirty, dangerous,uncomfortable, physical or more work in general then it suddenly is a man's job.

And too this "class system" if you show yourself as better at something That the women want to be better at ( Computers / Technology etc) well then you are a horrible misogynist for stepping in and showing them how to do something or that you know more and never tell them they are wrong. Better that you stand there all day going with out the internet or the computer while she tries to do something, rather then stepping in .

librtee_com · 2014-04-30T16:28:44+00:00

My only experience teaching was in Korea. I consider myself so lucky. It was a public school, but it was so incredibly laid back. Spend the entire lunch break in the tumbling room, sparring with half the boys in horseplay that always involved a lot of sore limbs? Looks like fun! Teaching the smaller classes on a single couch with all the kids crowded around me? Sure, no problem. Taking the kids on my motorcycle speeding through the countryside? Light, laughing reprimand.

It was really refreshing not living in a society that hasn't been poisoned by all this paranoia.

shrine_argument · 2014-04-30T07:27:17+00:00

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0mMzR8W6lNQ/T1PV9lWhf8I/AAAAAAAAHMw/WcV8mwfdr40/s320/kindergarten%2Bcop.jpg

XeroGeez · 2014-05-01T00:03:49+00:00

I worked with children at an after school center. The children would regularly hug me (these were pretty affectionate kids for some reason) and as long as it was a regular side hug then it wasn't a big deal. I was actually one of the more "compassionate" and "tender" of my coworkers but the parents never seemed to mind. I think the important thing is introducing yourself to parents and giving them a sense of who you are so theres no room for mystery. Yes, the burden of proof that one is or isn't a rapist shouldn't be placed on men, or anyone for that matter. That being said, it shouldn't stop anyone from pursuing a career in child education. The time I spent with my kids was one of the most educational and meaningful things i've ever done.

zeanxe · 2014-05-01T01:53:49+00:00

This attitude actually persuaded me not to go into teaching or other child services. Even when i was younger I was helping a little girl with homework and patted her on the head. I was told not to be too friendly with younger kids or people would get the wrong idea. Being a large, black male didn't help.

Which was awful because i ended babysit a lot. Parents would say "zean babysit for you, really?"

I steadily got more paranoid wondering what other people were thinking. One day a parent came over demanding to know where i was because she couldn't find her kid (i was out biking at the time). The kid was literally next door at a friends house, but came to see me first....

Futdashukup · 2014-04-30T14:01:27+00:00

I teach at a primary school (UK version of elementary) and I've never had any problems with the parents or kids, but then I don't do anything stupid or inappropriate. The problems I do have are with the other women teachers, who are a pain in the friggin buttocks! Basically , don't make a joke that isn't U rated, don't have an opinion, and don't disagree with them.

Earlycuyler1 · 2014-04-30T19:14:15+00:00

Why would students be sitting with a teacher cuddling him? If I saw an adult cuddling with my child I would be pissed man or woman.

Title	Why men don't teach elementary school
Author	EvilPundit
Upvotes	51
Comments	57
Date	April 30, 2014 7:21 AM UTC (12 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/24cn0j/why_men_dont_teach_elementary_school/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/why-men-dont-teach-elementary-school.1001165 https://theredarchive.com/post/1001165

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