I think it's important for you to realize how challenging it is for this gentleman too. My daughter's school had a phenomenal male kindergarten teacher. He was bright, a former Econ major, musically inclined, technologically savvy, and presided over the school's site council. Sadly due to budget cuts, he moved to another nearby school and is now teaching first grade, but he is a GREAT teacher.

If he came back and taught any grade, I'd gladly have my daughter in his class because his perspective would be different than a female teachers, but I'd certainly not trust him less because he's a male. Sadly today, too many people have to be extra guarded when they do their job (I coach kids), because of the possible look of impropriety.

I'd second what healthy11 suggests and definitely ask to speak to parents of former students. They should quickly put your mind at ease.

In my opinion no teacher should be descriminated against due to gender. Unfortunately I have come upon many "uncaring" female teachers during the years. Please keep an open mind and give everyone a fair chance.

I wish MORE of my kids elementary teachers were male. Generally, the ones that HAVE had have been very good teachers and very nurturing. I think its best that kids be taught by both genders as they both have something to give.

Our local school has two male teachers out of four kindergarten classrooms. They are highly coveted, especially by families with little boys. They are great role models, particularly if you want to downplay gender stereotypes.

Male teachers at the elementary level are much sought after.

Calm Down. Kindergarten is tough for kids and parents as well. I am reminded of the phrase, "If only I knew then what I know now..."
I think it is terrific that your daughter has the chance for a male teacher because there are so few in elementary education. To follow your stereotype to another conclusion, perhaps the male teacher will garner MORE respect from the students BECAUSE he is a man. My son attended a public elementary school and discipline in the classroom was non-existent, because your daughter's teacher is a man...you may have an unforeseen advantage.
I also realize this is your daughter you are concerned about sending to kindergarten. Ask question of other parents, but be discreet. You don't want to be labeled as a paranoid or biased parent with your child just starting in this school.
How about taking the opposite approach? Here's a good idea, become the classroom mom. Volunteer to read stories, and be creative. Make a FRIEND of the male teacher. My husband and I were in my son's classroom for a structured activity at least once a month. In the wintertime, we brought in dirt and pots and daffodil bulbs and let the kids plant them. The pots sat on the windowsill and the kids knew spring was coming. During the coldest part of January, we scheduled a Hawaiian party for the kids. I borrowed a slush machine from a friend and we played tropical music. I borrowed a bunch of grass skirts from a local college theater department and had the kids limbo. It was great.
Another time, I contacted a local wildlife refuge and brought in injured birds for the kids to see. They were amazed.
Another time, I borrowed science lab jackets for my husband and myself from the local college. I looked up several easy science experiments on-line for us to do for the kids. My husband and I dressed up as MAD Scientists for the day. That was five years ago and kids still talk about it.
In the heat of August and September, we went into school and brought packs of Construction paper from a office supply company that we do business with on a regular basis. We made Snowflakes and again had the slush machine. It made the kids FEEL colder.
We have done things like this throughout my son's schooling. The impact it has on the kids is far-reaching. Children who were in my son's classes five years ago see me in a grocery store and go out of their way to say hello and introduce me to their parents. The teachers loved it. Any kind of help you can give a teacher is almost always welcome. You have to be careful not to step on anyone's toes, however, and you need to have a good relationship with the principal.
I know you are probably sitting there and reading this and saying to yourself, that sounds great, but I don;t have time to do that with my daughter's class. No excuses. My husband and I have three different companies and 20-30 employees depending on the season. Make the time.......
The results for your daughter are incredible. She becomes popular and more self-assured. Your daughter's teacher knows you are on their side and really there to help. Also, your daughter's classmates will begin to think twice about ever being mean to your daughter because you are the one who brings the fun to the classroom and the bullies want to be part of the fun. Finally, the biggest reason, your actions speak louder than your words. Your daughter inherently begins to understand that you and your spouse believe that education is important and the relationship you develop with your daughter at this age will carry you through many of the arguments when she becomes a teenager.
Okay, sorry, I have perhaps spoken too much. I wish you the best of luck. I rarely respond to any of these questions but when I saw yours it reminded me so much of how I felt when my son started school. You really have no idea of what to expect...sometimes it is hard when you are unsure.
Just be active and dive in. Your daughter will gain courage from you.
Daughn Spahn

I know quite a few male kindergarten teachers. Just because one male does something bad doesn't mean we should judge them all the same. That's sexism. Also, most children are abused by females.
His perspective will be different than even other males. Each teacher is an individual. However, due to NCLB and state standards a lot of things in public schools have to be done exactly the same. I think it would be good for your daughter to have a male teacher. She has to learn to work and learn with all kinds.

I am coming to you from the perspective of a teacher (female) and a mother.

First of all, I understand that this is a place for questions and concerns to be addressed. However, I find it offensive, as a teacher, that any fellow teacher would be judged because of their gender rather than their ability to do their job and do that job well. This is the same fight women faced just years ago! Think of your daughter--would you find it ok for a person to judge her because of her gender?

As a parent I understand that our kids are our FIRST priority. If you want to get a feeling for this teacher then you should make an appointment to meet him and have a conversation about his classroom. Ask him to tell you about what the daily routine will be for the kids, what kind of special programs/field trips will be available, etc. A good teacher will be able to answer all your questions easily. A great teacher will answer your questions with enthusiasm and a sense of pride in his/her job. Hopefully by the end of your meeting you will have a sense of what kind of teacher you are dealing with. That is FAR more important than gender.

Yes!

Elementary and middle schools need more male teachers. I hope the pay increases to attract many male teachers to the classroom.

Good question!

I think that if you are concerned with the recent reports in the media, the thing you need to be worried about it young female teachers. I don't think(with having three daughter's that have just recently or are about to go into kindergarten) that having a male teacher is a bad thing. For some children that strong influence in the classroom will be just what the doctor ordered. Sometimes kids tend to run over women.

Judge the teacher on his merits not his sex.

yes

Like another respondent, I find the question itself offensive. Why would you judge a person based on their gender? We are short of male parents and male role models in our homes and in our primary schools. As a child, I did not see a male teacher until 7th grade. My female kindergarten teacher called me "stupid" because I did not memorize my address as quickly as other children. She didn't do that because of her gender. She simply didn't belong in education.

I'm sorry but this seems sexist. Not all men are out to get your children. Men and women love children the same way.

I am with the others...this seems sexist and like sassybrown said if you are concerned with the media " the thing you need to worry about is young female teachers" yet your mind seems to wonder off it to a problematic seen instead of the evalution seen!

Hmm, all valid concerns, although you might consider talking to former parents and reviewing the credential/hiring process for teachers at your child's school. You may find that the standards are quite rigorous and if the opposite should be true than you might further consider finding a different school, as a teacher's qualifications and reputation should spur motivation and confidence regardless of their gender.

Best,

Joe Bruzzese

If your asking that question then you've already got things in your mind. And when school starts and your child is attending you will find something to complain or critize this teacher about so either get over it or find a new school. By the way every teacher teaches different so one teachers strong points may not be another teachers strong points. kind of like people you can judge until you meet them.

I think this question is something many parents of K. children have in mind, but refuse to ask.

Take a second and look for a positive thing about this question such as, what are we parents afraid of. Is it our children's new teacher, bus driver, new neighbor, new church member, new boy or girl friend, relatives, friends, coach, or YOU. Then we can discuss it and get some insights on what we do not know or know a little.

I believe this woman or man asked this question because her child is under six years old. As I mentioned before male teachers are necessary for elementary school and my son had one last year.

As a parent, what is your fear!

Fear is indeed an incredible motivator that often prompts illogical action; yet as a parent you have the right to make decisions which you consider to be in the best interests of your child with the information you have at the time. Choices change over time as we gather additional information. The challenge then seems to be connecting people with information that better qualifies their choices. Wonderful to see that we have a site like this to share communication and information that might better inform our decision-making prowess. Kudos to the parent who initiated this question. How many parents don't ask and move ahead, unaware?

Best,
Joe Bruzzese

Wow! I love the passion and enthusiasm you brought to this discussion. I'm in agreement with you on a few points particularly the idea that if we come into an environment with a perception of what we expect to see, we often find that our reality matches that perception. Hence the importance of entering new environments with an open mind and an emphasis on creating an incredible first impression. Teachers also enter the school year with a similar thought process.

I honestly can not believe that this is even a question....I'm kinda shocked! Why would it even be a problem? It shows how undeveloped we truely are as a society.....

i not sure , but i think if we got the male kindergarten teacher , that good for the male sudents , male students love male teacher

OMG YES! A male Kindergarten teacher is WONDERFUL!

My daughter (now 17 yrs old a SENIOR in HS) had a male Kindergarten teacher. It was HIS first teaching job! He was fantastic!

YOU will LOVE all day Kindergarten and so will your daughter!

waterlilly, I am with you. I had to read this question twice.

My 3 1/2 year old has had a male lead preschool teacher for the last 8 months. He is absolutely wonderful! He treats every child equally and is very consistent in his praise and redirection. I couldn't be happier!

Of course it's appropriate to have a male kingergarten teacher! Is it appropriate to have a female doctor, lawyer, bus driver, etc., etc. - of course! Same issues.

Both my kids (1 boy, 1 girl) had the same male kindergarten teacher. He was great!

Ability to do a job competently and appropriately is NOT decided by gender.

A male kindergarten teacher is no more inappropriate than a female kindergarten teacher. You have boys in that female teachers class just the same as you have girls in the male teacher's class. The gender of the teacher has nothing to do with their teaching ability. Some of my best teachers growing up were males. It's more important how the teacher interacts with the students than it is what gender they are.

This shows you how little REAL information and learning takes place these days. Most children in grade school never run across a male teacher EVER. I read to a first grade class as part of a "Read with Me" program and have become somewhat of a celebrity by the sheer fact of being male. Be happy that, considering the pay scale, you have someone that can represent a different look for the kids.

To the people who are judging the original poster for the question asked, I think that you might be forgetting that we are often raised and indoctrinated to believe certain precepts, even if they are socially and culturally insensitive. Many people are struggling with trying to better themselves and rise above what their parents and grandparents thought and taught with regard to gender, race, creed, etc. And we need to be sensitive to them and accepting, not judgmental.

I do hope the original poster has not been scared away from GreatSchools as this site is a wonderful site with wonderful people. And I hope you come back again and participate in more conversations. You have a lot to offer this community, as everyone here does.

My children have had male preschool teachers through highschool teachers. My preschooler loved her teacher! My elementary school daughter requested me to try to get her a male teacher and I did due to her father's deployment and my feeling that she could benefit from a strong male influence. She loved it and wanted males the next couple of elementary school years! Great experiences and the preschool and 3rd grade men were very nurturing! Cannot say enough that it was a great thing for my kids. I just listened carefully to their feelings about how comfortable they were in class for any signs of problems! But, never a one!

This teacher was a bully to a few of the boys in the class and pulled the chair out from one of them.That
is why That day he was told to retire so not to be fired.He would not work around Children any more...

The news is particularly adept at reporting all the negative aspects of life and few of the positives. There seems to be more interest in seeing people fail rather than seeing people succeed. If you can, and I understand it's not always possible, see if you can spend some time in this teachers class/center and observe his interactions with the children, groups, parents, and families ask questions, get to know what is (educationally) important to him and spend some time to reconcile that with your beliefs.
Not to be overly negative but rather to pose another question, "Do you think it is inappropriate to have a male kindergarten teacher?"
Perhaps it is worthy of your time to consider what you truly want for your child and make a bullet point list then see how many of those points can be achieved in kindergarten and how many are gender dependent.
It's fair to claim that some generations of men are not adept at taking on a nurturing role but that is changing a great deal. It is also fair to claim that some men are lousy at sports, building, or drinking.
Would I like a male teacher for my four year old daughter? If he is a 'good' teacher then yes of course! It enriches her experience and exposure to role models and reduces the impact of gender stereotyping. I would also like her to see female builders, truck drivers, doctors, whatever ...
My point in short is 'if women can expect to do anything then why can't men' ?

I agree - we can't have it both ways. If we believe that women should have access to all careers, then the same should hold for men.

While my kids had female kindergarten teachers, they also had male coaches, art instructors, Karate sensais that were outstanding teachers, mentors and role models.

Let's look at the skills needed to do the job and then match the person that demonstrates the skills. I know for a fact that men as well as women can be great instructors, can be supportive and nurturing and approachable.

I don't think either gender has a monopoly on certain skills and abilities.

We need more male teachers in the lower grades to give our children a role model that don't have male role model at home. There are children that don't have father figure at home and that is something that the children are lacking. I am in education and I see the importance of male teachers in lower grades levels. When my daughter moved up to the fourth grade, I wanted her to have a male teacher to prepare her for middle school but the teacher went to teach a higher grade. As teachers we have aset of standard that we need to follow and if we can't follow them we don't teach. I would say give him a chance and you go into the class observe and be willing to help out in the classroom. When my daughter was in 2nd grade she had a male teacher and until this day I believe that was her favorite year in elementary school.

Good question. Just be very careful you don't allow your fears to be known by your child. Children are much more accepting and open than we are but also sometimes can navigate in another direction depending on the views of the parent. It really should'nt be an issue.

I am a father with three daughters.
If I was concerned I would go volunteer in the classroom.
Spend more time at the school and observe how he interacts with the kids.
Be a parent volunteer at the school.
Ask for copy of his qualifications in writing, you do not need to give a reason for this.
How long has he taught?
Can you talk to other parents of his students from last year?


Mr. Speaker Wire

Yes, it is appropriate! I was a Kinder teacher and loved it. The kids loved me, and so did the parents. Give the guy a chance.

This is an absurd question to me! Has this teacher given you a reason to be distrustful of him? I can understand wanting to protect your child and totally agree on the importance of the Kindergarten year. But please, you have to at least give him a chance.

It is certainly ok for a scholl to employ a male kindergarten teacher. My son had a male teacher at his daycare for VPK, unfortunately half way through the school year he left to be a stay home daddy for his newborn son. The kids all loved him, and I have seen plenty of female teachers of little ones that were not as caring and nurturing as he was, some females were downright hateful. I moved my child at the age of 2 from a daycare for that reason, I would not subject him to a mean teacher he didn't like for an entire year at that young age. He had been at that daycare since he was 10 months old, and this teacher that gave me the desire to move him was female. I say let the men teach if they have the desire and capability!!