<p>If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
'Nuff said.</p>
<p>I think it IS broke</p>
<p>Children need to be taught by adults they can relate to.
Just as minorities can more closely identify with teachers who look like them, boys especially need to have male teachers to identify with.
I also feel both sexes will benefit by having more positive male role models, in communities where the dads are working 80+ hours a week and in communities where there is no father in the home, both will gain from having positive daily models of what it means to be a man. Where else are they going to get these models otherwise, from sitcoms and video games?</p>
<p>I agree that men are NOT discriminated against in this field. But less men unfortunately go into it and I agree with Northstarmom that the reason is in part due to low pay and status (and long held society views as to careers meant for women vs. men). However, I am glad to say that at my kids' former elementary school (where I taught BEFORE they were born), there are 9 classroom teachers for gr. K-6 (all are multi age classrooms and I am not counting the preschool class), four of these are currently male and five are female. The music and gym teachers are also male. Two of the male teachers each teach a grade 1-2 class (I subbed in one of these two days ago) and two male teachers each teach gr. 5-6 (we have had each one in our family, great teachers). </p>
<p>Susan</p>