Education Issues Debate

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=5670187&page=1

Let's talk about this article because I was just blown away.  Maybe it's because I grew up with a girl who had a 4th grade teacher for a dad?  Maybe it's because my favorite teacher in school was male?  Maybe it's because my daughter's 3rd grade teacher last year was a male and she was inspired more by him than any other teacher she's had so far?  Heck, he recommended the male teacher in 4th grade for her and we were all thrilled when he actually placed her in his class.  But I'm just shocked that people would jump to the conclusion that just because he's male, single and teaching elementary kids then he is a deviant.  Why stop there?  Are male pediatricians also deviants?  Male child therapists?  Is it okay as long as they're gym teachers and principals? 

Why not just teach your children to come to you if ANY adult touches them inappropriately or says something that makes them uncomfortable?

I'm open minded and would love to hear both sides here because right now, this article just opened up a whole lot of curiosity for me.

 

 

I work in the elementary school, and all the males I have ever worked with have been EXTREMELY aware and careful to avoid any appearance of anything that would cause concern.

Compared to the women, they have to tiptoe and walk on egg shells in many ways.

I agree.  Male teachers are usually so carefull never to be alone with 1 student, especially a girl, or give any reason for anyone to suspect them of being inappropriate.  Whereas female teacher don't even give it a thought. 

It does go both ways though.  Female executives can be looked as bad bad moms.  Stay at home dads get lots of odd looks & rude comments.  DH is very active in DD's life and has been since she was born.  If i get 1 more "That's so nice that he's involved"  I'll scream.  He's her dad he's doing his job.  Same as male teachers.  They're just doing the job they want to do.  Make sense?

I think it's sad but also a dangerous assumption because (although it's a lot more rare) female teachers could be abusive or predatory too, so why just focus on the men?

Personally I would actually prefer if there were a lot MORE male teachers at the grade school level.  These days there are so many single moms raising sons who may not have any male role models, as well as little girls who may not have father figures.  As a single mom myself I was recently happily surprised to see several young guys working as daycare aids at my son's daycare.  I think it's really important for him to have that influence because I think that men handle parenting and disciplining so much differently than women.  I even see that in the way the daycare aids talk to my son and play with him at daycare.  I expect he'll go through gradeschool playing the "cute" card and being mothered and babied by a bunch of female teachers.  What a shame. 

Kyra
mom to Aidan, age 2