‘School teachers have an easy
job; short working hours and six holiday weeks during the summer. They don’t
have to work in cubicles and can bring the children out of the class when the
sun is shining. But there’s a darker side to the school system and it’s the
male teachers that are suffering. JOEP DERKSEN reports.
When children go to school, they usually have reached
the not so ripe age of 4 years. Most of them are potty trained, but accidents
are bound to happen. Talking with these post-toddlers about cars and women is
not possible; they don’t care about those kinds of topics. The next eight years
these kids go to the elementary school to learn how to read and write, and get
some basic knowledge on history, math and, with a little luck, acquire some
social skills as well.
Taking care of children is not per se a woman’s job,
but many men simply are not able to speak and argue with children. Let alone
teach them a thing or two. It is therefore quite logical that over the years
the vast majority of the teachers are from the female sex. But this poses other
challenges for the few remaining men who chose to become teachers. Some of them
have to endure the chitchat between women during the breaks and are confronted
with important subjects as menopause, monthly period, stockings and dieting.
The trade union CNV Onderwijs (education) published a
research last month addressing the problem that male teachers feel left out.
More than 2.700 teachers (male and female) answered questions and six out of
ten male teachers confirmed that they sometimes feel alone between all their
female colleagues. The women as well like to see more male teachers, the
research shows. Stephan Kurpershoek is the only male teacher at a small elementary
school in Friesland and he tells the Telegraaf: ‘Although I can work very well
with my colleagues, I do feel a little like an outcast. I take shorter breaks,
because sometimes for weeks in a row the conversations are only about diets and
pregnancies.'
Nowadays, only 15% of teachers are from the male sex
and that percentage is dwindling. Most elementary schools only have two or
three of this extinct breed and it is not a good development for the school
children. Children also need male teachers as a role model; somebody they can
look up to.
Gert Jan Vermin is teacher at De Noordwijkse School
and he followed his passion to start working in the education system. ‘I was
sick and tired of the stress in the commercial business world and took the
opportunity to work with children. I graduated in 2011 after having followed
evening classes from the Pabo for two years.’ He reflects on those years: ‘The
everlasting ‘theme colleges’ should be abolished. In those theme colleges the
students are divided in groups and the have to endlessly discuss certain subjects
and topics.’
Vermin recognizes some of the complaints his male
colleagues have. ‘I soon noticed the difference in teaching between male and
female teachers. For instance, my instructions to the children are shorter and
more powerful. It is scientifically proven that the attention span of boys is
shorter. Also, men are more direct and strict and, even more important, can
sometimes do crazy things. One time I jumped on a table during a course about
walking a tightrope, pretending to do exactly that. The children thought it was
hilarious and I don’t see a female colleague do that same thing.’
Vermin does not identify himself with the quotes from
Kurpershoek. ‘Of course subjects like diets and pregnancies are discussed. But
it is really not true that my female colleagues can’t talk about anything else.
And when such a subject is discussed for too long, in my opinion, I make a bold
and funny statement. Soon after that, the subject changes. Also, I have the
fortunate working circumstance that most of my colleagues are not so-called
‘sissy misses’ (tutjuffen).
Vermin has the opinion that the abundance of female
teachers is a threat for boys. Hence, they only get in touch with female role
models. ‘This is one of the reasons why I chose to become a teacher. This development
is not good for children, and especially for the boys. But for some girls it is
also good, when they look up to a male teacher for one or two years. Therefore
I want to have safe and comfortable surroundings in my class where children can
be themselves. And develop themselves in an authentic and natural way, while
exploring all their talents.’
Does Vermin undertake action to let the school
children get in touch with so-called ‘typical male stuff’? ‘Once in a while I
ask the children (from group 5, JD) whether they have watched football on
television. Also I tend to talk longer and go more in depth about subjects such
as police, the military or other ‘typical male’ professions.’
Joany Krijt, vice chairman of
CNV Education, is of the opinion that the time has come to attract more men.
And this should start with the teacher education, the Pabo. According to Krijt,
the Pabo focusses the content of the classes too much on women. All students
learn how to do arts and crafts with children, but most men prefer to explore
the possibilities on fields such as technique or gym. Krijt says in the
Telegraaf: ‘Cancel the obligated toddler internship in the first year of the
Pabo. That is one of the reasons why male students leave the Pabo, because men
usually have more in common with older children than with toddlers.’
