The Paucity of Male Elementary School Teachers: Discriminatory Hiring Practices and Other Contributing Factors.

The past 20 years have witnessed a significant metamorphosis with regard to clinical gender neutrality within the classrooms of public schools. However, the beginning and formative years of a child's formal entry into public school are overseen by female teachers. Men comprise only 12% of the teaching force in elementary school, and this 12% of men is clustered in upper elementary grades 4 through 6. This paper reviews the literature on discriminatory hiring practices toward male elementary school teachers and discusses the reasons for the perception of discrimination. The paper's overall conclusion is that, there is discrimination in hiring male teachers. The reasons for this bias may take overt or covert form, and additionally, this bias is rooted in a sociological and historic mindset. However, the paper finds that, aside from the external bias factors, men must assume a portion of the blame for their limited representation in numbers as elementary school teachers. Contains 23 notes, 10 references, and attached informational materials. (BT)