Do male teacher help young kids to behave?

[AB Asks]

The Training and Development Agency for Schools wants to get more men teaching in primary schools. They feel that the presence of male teachers in schools makes kids be better behaved. At present only 16% of primary school teachers are men. Do you think that there should be more men teaching in primary schools? Would an increase in numbers make any difference to behaviour?

[LeMarchand]

As no-one else wants to answer: I work in 3 different schools. 2 of them are in the same sort of socio-economic area (ie low employment etc etc). The school with a male head and 2 male teachers has markedly better behaviour and much more going on in the way of after school activities, both academic and sporting (not all run by the guys, I hasten to add!) than the other, which has no male teaching staff.

[meltoadhall]

our school has just appointed a male headteacher and when asked, the children unanimously voted for the man over the woman applicant because they said she was too nice.
by the way, the man got the job, not because he was not nice but the best person for the job .

[teddybon]

A good teacher is a good teacher, either sex.

[EngTeach]

I do think that many boys respond well to a male in the classroom. Especially in the lower grades. Many of the children have no positive male role models except the teachers. That's not to say single moms can't/don't do a good job, just that they don't see men in a positive role.

Funny thing, I am a female and I usually bond the most with the troubled boys. They are High school age and maybe bond with me because they are used to women. Who knows? I think each teacher has their strengths and is able to bond and help different students.