Is this at all surprising?

[R1Geezer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11175850
With the systematic demonisation of men is it any wonder that they don't want to get anywhere near children?

[Count-A-Strong]

The headmaster at our J&I school is male.

[boxtops]

This is not new news R1G, but it might be a new bit of research.

[bednobs]

even when i was at primary school (well first and middle school as it was called then) there was only 1 male teacher in both schools (from 5-11 yo)
as far as i can recall, 31 years ago men had not been "systematically demonised" and anyone who had no direct experience had not even heard of sexual abuse etc, so i can see no link really. I just think it's a job that attracts more women, full stop. Similar to nursing - a job that attracts more women. patients are vulnerable too, but no-one would suggest there's not as many male nurses as female because they've been systematically demonised, would they?

[boxtops]

we had lots of male teachers at my secondary school and at least two in primary. Women seem to gravitate more to primary teaching.

[R1Geezer]

do you not think that men have been put off though fearing the paedo label? Not only primary schools etc but also scouts/cubs etc.

[bednobs]

no, i don't, as i said, i think it's just because it's a job that attracts more women than men.

[boxtops]

In reality I would say that it's the same for women though R1G - everyone's fearful of hugging their little pupils or putting their arm round them to comfort them. Doesn't matter what sex you are, even the women are spooked about it in some cases.

[Answerprancer]

I have been very much immersed in this as I occasionally work in schools and this situation is very real I'm afraid. There *is* a lack of male teachers, hugging a crying child is considered a no no for male teachers. Innocent men are being looked at askance in all sorts of situations and occasionally wrongly suspected - it's a side effect of the paedo hysteria that (even thinking) people buy into and it makes me livid.
We live in sick sad times...I hope it moves on.

[Thomas]

A paedo near us painted a crossing next to a primary school and got himself a lollipop stick. He was only found out when he turned up during the holidays.

They are everywhere!

[factor-fiction]

I've seen a couple of your postings today Thomas and I get the impression you are trying to provoke a reaction. They remind me of someone else who used to post on here

[karenmac60]

My dad started teaching in 1972 and even then it was very rare for there to be male teachers in primary schools. As for them 'being scared to hug a crying child', I work for the local authority and a lot of my work involves children and no one under any circumstances is allowed to touch the children at all. This is part of the child protection policy and is as much for our protection as their's - to safeguard against false allegations etc. I think it's ridiculous, but it affects everyone, not just men.

[sherrardk]

A lot of men become primary teachers as they seem to be more likely to become Head teachers than women (don't know the exact percentages but its something like 90% of all primary teachers are women but 90% of all primary Head teachers are men). It's the very reason why my husband chose to teach in primary schools.

[askyourgran]

It seems that the die is cast now for male teachers nowadays. It it such a shame that they can't get on with the business of teaching without being the object of suspicion. We had some great teachers in our middle school and no-one gave a thought to things like that. Nowadays it must be difficult for men to teach at all, when up against volatile 13-15 year old boys that must be very hard to deal with,

[sherrardk]

HI AYG - I found it very difficult being up against volatile 11 - 19 year olds and it was one of the reasons I left teaching. As a senior member of staff I was expected to wade in and sort out all sorts of situations - bit of a tall order when you're a 5' 5" female.

[askyourgran]

I can't say I blame you sherrardk, the children seem so tall and initimidating nowadays and they have no respect for anyone. I hope there are rules in place for troublemakers.

[Answerprancer]

Factor - your suspicions about this poster are PRECISELY my definition of the word "troll". I wish posters here would grasp this fact.
My point being that the word seems to have become a generic term for anyone (perhaps a previously banned poster) who comes on here just to be silly (not the true definition).

[factor-fiction]

I'd be interested to see whether Thomas has any evidence to support his 'tale'. If not, it doesn't seem at all helpful to me.

[Answerprancer]

The true troll deliberately posts stuff designed to provoke people or steer a debate off into a different area in order to give them a sense of power - it's a bit like arson.
Simply put - it's online sh!t stirring.

[fredpuli47]

RIG, how many male teachers did you have teaching at your primary school (s) ?
Back in 1952, when I started school, it was unthinkable for a man to be teaching primary school children. My state school had 100 per cent female teaching staff ,as did the private school I attended later. Nobody was thinking of paedophilia.The job was simply seen as not one for men .Even in these egalitarian times, this attitude prevails. Almost needless to say,both the schools had male headmasters but neither of them taught the children. They were administrators, not teachers.
Incidentally,the private school insisted that the female teachers be addressed by pupils as 'Sir' not 'Miss'. I don't know what to make of that!.

[ummmm]

In my lower school which I started in 1978 we had three classes. Class 1 with a female teacher and the other two male teachers. Including the head. We then had part time teachers...all female, that came in for cookery, art and sewing lessons.

I loved that school....