As a result of poor achievement by many boys in school there have been quite justified calls for more male teachers in Primary Schools. But a report just out from the Department for Children, Schools and Families says there is little evidence to support a campaign to get more men into the classroom. In a rather strange report it states that over 300 children aged 7 and 8 were interviewed and 65% believed that gender did not matter. The report goes on to suggest that it would be better to establish a strong school ethos which gives boys a good self image.
I find it difficult to believe that conclusions from just three hundred 7 and 8 year olds can be used as a basis for a report – I wonder how many of these children have ever been taught by a man? It is worth remembering that many schools have no male teachers and a huge number have just one, which hardly reflects society as a whole. Primary schools are becoming the reserve of the female population and it becomes even worse for those children from families who have split and seldom if ever see their fathers.
A further note of interest from a personal point of view I have noticed throughout my teaching that the men seem to be the curriculum leaders in Maths, ICT, Science and Games rather than other subjects – and boys are still performing well at maths!