Study: Canada needs more male primary school teachers
Posted October 22, 2010 4:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A new study shows Canada’s male primary teachers are challenged by notions of lower prestige and suspicions of abuse.
Dr. Douglas Gosse with Schulich School of Education says his study found only a tenth of Canadian primary and elementary teachers are men and those in the study reported a stigma of suspicion with teaching younger children, such as pedophilia. “There’s a far greater likelihood that some form of abuse would occur in a child’s home as opposed to in a school.”
He says his research shows these teachers feel their jobs are considered less-prestigious than positions at the high school level. “Teachers at that level are preparing kids for University, whereas at the primary and elementary levels, I think it’s treated with less respect.”
Gosse says teachers and the public seem to agree students ought to be exposed to more teacher diversity, be it gender, culture or sexual orientation.
