Wanted: More male teachers

Men are in demand in America's public schools as a greater focus is placed on the need to diversify the historically female-dominated profession. Nationally, NEA is waging a drive to get more men into teaching. At the Association's 2002 Representative Assembly, NEA members approved a measure to "identify, recognize, recruit and retain" more male teachers, with an emphasis on elementary and minority teachers.

According to NEA research, just 24.9 percent of the nation's 3 million teachers are men. And over the last two decades, the ratio of males to females in teaching has steadily declined. The number of male teachers now stands at a 40-year low.

The percentage of male teachers in elementary schools has fallen regularly since 1981 - that year, it reached an all-time high of 18 percent. Today, a scant 9 percent of elementary school teachers are men. Likewise, the percentage of males in secondary schools has fluctuated over the years, but now stands at its lowest level (35 percent).

The male teacher dilemma

• Colleges of education historically have a tough time luring men because of dated notions that teaching is women's work.

• Salaries are low for teachers when compared to salaries for other professionals, which lowers the prestige and social value of a career in teaching.

• Many men don't see the teaching profession as a lucrative way to provide for their families.

• The prevailing philosophy within education is that men go into teaching to "teach the subject," and women enter teaching to nurture and develop children. Since males tend to gravitate toward secondary teaching, this leaves a critical shortage of male teachers at the elementary level.

Strategies for increasing the number of male teachers

Address the wage gap
States with the highest salaries tend to have the highest proportion of male teachers. Michigan is ranked 1st in the percentage of male teachers (37 percent); Michigan ranks in the top 5 nationally in teacher pay. Mississippi is ranked 50th in the percentage of male teachers (18 percent); Mississippi is ranked 49th out of 50 states in teacher pay.

Identify and recruit young men into teaching in high school
There is a perennial shortage of male applicants to schools of education. Initiatives to identify prospective teachers early in their academic careers have proven successful. Secondary school surveys, career counseling, and college prep courses can help boost enrollment.

Teachers: Spread the word!
Teachers can talk up the golden opportunities of teaching to their male students. NEA asked the nation's teachers to select, from a list of options, the principal reason they originally decided to become a teacher. The influence of a teacher in elementary or secondary school was the 4th most frequently chosen reason (32 percent). Most notably, teachers under 30 gave this reason with greater frequency than did teachers over 30 (39% vs. 31%).