Gender Of Teacher Has Effects

[Ijustwannateach]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060827/ap_on_re_us/boys_girls

WASHINGTON - For all the differences between the sexes, here's one that might stir up debate in the teacher's lounge: Boys learn more from men and girls learn more from women.

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Dee says his research supports his point, that gender matters when it comes to learning. Specifically, as he describes it, having a teacher of the opposite sex hurts a student's academic progress.

"We should be thinking more carefully about why," he said.

Dee warns against drawing fast conclusions based on his work. He is not endorsing single-sex education, or any other policy.

Rather, he hopes his work will spur more research into gender's effect and what to do about it.

His study comes as the proportion of male teachers is at its lowest level in 40 years. Roughly 80 percent of teachers in U.S. public schools are women.

What do you guys think?

Edited August 27, 2006 by Ijustwannateach

[paully]

It's an interesting one isn't it? Certainly in the UK the perception has been that women teachers are 'better' for younger kids, both boys and girls, but they are trying to encourage more male teachers in primary schools now. There were concerns that young boys were 'losing out' in terms of progress compared to girls in mixed classes and there were few male role models.

Could it be that single-sex education, under teachers of the same sex as the pupils, was correct after all?

Edited August 28, 2006 by paully

[fxm88]

Fascinating.

A few years ago it was concluded that the problem was that "male students were involved in more interaction than female students. It did not matter whether the teacher was black or white, male or female; the pattern remained the same. Male students received more attention from teachers.".

What will they think of next!

Edited August 28, 2006 by fxm88

[PeaceBlondie]

In traditional Western families (when I was a yung'un), Mama stayed home while Dad went to work. So, we were accustomed to being taken care of and taught by a female. Nonetheless, only a few of us ended up as gay men, and it took me 42 years to figure that one out, during which time I never played femme, or played dolls, etc.

Nonetheless, as already mentioned, we just assumed (as Thai schools seem to assume for anuban and lower prathom) that women teach children. In fact, back home, teaching and nursing were the only professions open to females, usually.

When I went into religious education professionally, youth directors and youth pastors were 90% male, and the women were expected to be children's workers. That was in the 1970's, and I doubt it's changed much.

[Loaded]

I think that in general women have more patience, aren't confrontational and are more likely to be sympathetic that 5 year old Nong has lost his pen. ie better at teaching young uns.

[sbk]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060827/ap_on_re_us/boys_girls

WASHINGTON - For all the differences between the sexes, here's one that might stir up debate in the teacher's lounge: Boys learn more from men and girls learn more from women.

.

.

.

Dee says his research supports his point, that gender matters when it comes to learning. Specifically, as he describes it, having a teacher of the opposite sex hurts a student's academic progress.

"We should be thinking more carefully about why," he said.

Dee warns against drawing fast conclusions based on his work. He is not endorsing single-sex education, or any other policy.

Rather, he hopes his work will spur more research into gender's effect and what to do about it.

His study comes as the proportion of male teachers is at its lowest level in 40 years. Roughly 80 percent of teachers in U.S. public schools are women.

What do you guys think?

Does this study specify an age group at which same gender teachers are more beneficial?

Best teacher I ever had was a male history teacher in high school. And, yes, I did tell him that at my high school reunion

[Ijustwannateach]

An update to this thread:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20061026/ts_csm/asinglesex

CHICAGO AND BOSTON - Controversial new regulations give educators far more latitude to establish schools and classes strictly for a single gender, even as research on the practice is scarce and inconclusive.

The regulations, released Wednesday by the Department of Education, mark a major shift in the interpretation of Title IX, approved 34 years ago to bar sex discrimination in schools.

It's a change that has intensified a long-running debate over whether boys and girls learn better in a single-sex environment, with critics warning the regulations may roll back years of hard-won ground.

Even the Department of Education, in announcing the rules, acknowledged research is mixed and backed away from endorsing single-sex classrooms.

"The research, though it's ongoing and shows mixed results, suggests that single-sex education can provide benefits to some students under certain circumstances," said Assistant Secretary of Education Stephanie Monroe, in a news briefing. She emphasized any single-sex environment would be voluntary, and an equivalent coeducational option would be available.

Research on the practice has been controversial. Theories that each gender has different learning styles or brain growth, or that boys are losing ground in traditional schools, have caught on in the media and popular imagination.

Seems pretty fast to be a reaction to such recently published research!

Here in Thailand, I've taught single-sex classes before, but I didn't like it. Having each of them around keeps the other ones on their toes (and they try to impress each other as well).

[Rhys]

Bogus

[Robski]

In my only real teaching experience so far, I worked in an English play school in Finland, the children were 3-7 years old. When I went there I was the only male teacher the school had ever had. There were four mixed groups and in all the groups the boys were very withdrawn, unmotivated and unhappy, this wasn't really the fault of the female staff although they did seem at a loss as how to motivate them, the problem was that the boys seemed to feel that activities initiated by females were 'sissy', and the peer pressure amongst themselves was too great for any of them to lose face by joining in the activities. Well gradually over the first couple of weeks they all came out of their shells, I did this by taking part in the activities the girls were doing to show them that it was ok to be colouring in pictures and singing songs etc, by making activities that I knew would interest them, boystuff you know and by generally playing and taking an interest in them.

This was very rewarding and made for a happy school and some very happy parents. It was such a sense of fullfilment when more than one parent told me they had seen such a positive change in their son at home and that he was so eager to interact with people and wanted to learn about so many things.

[TeflTommy]

Here in Thailand, I've taught single-sex classes before, but I didn't like it. Having each of them around keeps the other ones on their toes (and they try to impress each other as well).

I've also taught single sex classes, both boys and girls. I even taught groups of gay boys. I found no real difference. Thai students tend to help each other. It's not really about impressing each other.

The sex of a teacher is also irrelevant IMHO. If you are good you will probably have a positive impact and if your are not there is a strong possibility you will have a negative one.

All teachers are different and so are the students. Some will like you and some will hate you. Some will relate to you and some wont. If the student shows some appliction he or she has a good chance of succeeding. If they don't the will probably fail. A good teacher will try to bring or coax that application out of their students and bad one wont even see it or if they do they wont care or try.

Children are constantly changing and teachers also.

There are too many variables which makes this kind of research pretty worthless imo.

[Robski]

Tefltommy how can the sex of a teacher be irrelevant? of course it is relevant, people look for role models amongst their own gender, why would children be any different? by seeing the teacher as a positive role model the student may be more inclined to learn. of course there are many factors that can motivate the student, but I think gender is one of them and in some cases could be a crucial factor.

[ZZZ]

There has always been talk about how men can never understand how a woman’s mind works. There’s got to be some truth in this saying and in the opposite case as well.

During my time in school I always had about an equal mix of genders of teachers. Thinking back I must say that I had a much better understanding of the subjects taught by teachers of my own gender.

As the proportion of female teachers has grown to 80% so have the number of female graduates who now easily outnumber male graduates. Coincidence or what ????

Edited October 29, 2006 by ZZZ

[PeaceBlondie]

The vast majority of Western men were probably taught overwhelmingly by women teachers, and had mothers at home. Yet only 5% of them turned out gay. I'm unaware of a rule that human beings must always imitate role models of the same gender (though they often do). My first male teacher at school was in the 6th grade, and I remember looking forward to it, preferring a man, etc. But in reality, I'm not sure it really made any difference.

As for TEFL in Thailand, both of the huge govt. matayom schools where I worked had a faculty of English consisting of 85% to 95% females. Conversely, maybe 90% of the farang who teach EFL in Thailand are men. Hmm, just one more thing to add to the long list of ways that TEFLers don't resemble the average Thai teachers of English.......

[TeflTommy]

Tefltommy how can the sex of a teacher be irrelevant? of course it is relevant, people look for role models amongst their own gender, why would children be any different? by seeing the teacher as a positive role model the student may be more inclined to learn. of course there are many factors that can motivate the student, but I think gender is one of them and in some cases could be a crucial factor.

As most students get a mix of male and female teachers and these can be good ok or bad then I still can't see the relevance of the sex of a teacher. If you had a class of boys taught by bad male teachers are they good role models? No. Nothing to do with the sex more to do with how a teacher relates to their students whether they are boys or girls taught by a male or female teacher.

A good male teacher can be a good a good role model for a girl. It's like saying black boys need black role models.

It's what comes from inside and not what one looks like on the outside that makes a good role model

[Loaded]

It's like saying black boys need black role models.

It's what comes from inside and not what one looks like on the outside that makes a good role model

That's a very interesting point. As I undersand it in the US promoting positive black role models for young black men is encouraged. However, I feel this emphasizes not only positive but also negative differences in the races, which is not good IMO, but I can also see that parts of black US society need less conventional help.

I guess using this as a benchmark of some kind I would say we shouldn't worry about the sex of teachers. But I'm still not 100% convinced.

[Robski]

In my own experience, gender did make a difference, maybe it is more of a factor with young children.

I guess if you had a wish list of teacher qualities, knowledge of the subject would be at the top, personality somewhere around the middle and perhaps gender all the way down near the bottom, but I don't think you can say that gender has no bearing at all in education.

I could also argue that gender can have a negative effect, in a male dominated society, would a female teacher receive as much respect as a male teacher from male students? Could this make them feel that the ideas being put forward are not as important?

[msZee]

Gender has never been the issue. Great Classroom management and excellent interaction/ rapport with them kids play pivotal roles instead.

When I was much younger, i adored two of my teachers. One was a gentle, kind lady who went all out to coach me in my studies ( offered free tuition ) ..and the other was a friendly man who never failed to write motivational comments in my handbook--they really made my day!

[Robski]

It's an interesting topic with no real middle ground. debating personal experiences may give a 50/50 result, but the author Dee has reason to believe that gender is a factor. I hope that the research is used positively to further teching methods and not hi jacked by conservatives and used for their own purposes.

[BangkokBillyBoy]

the author Dee has reason to believe that gender is a factor.

One can believe what one wants but it doesn't make it true. I once new a guy who thought he was Napoleon. You can convince yourself to believe anything, if you so wish.

IMHO a good role model can be either male or female. It just depends on the personal qualities of individual teachers combined with the needs of individual students. When there's a match you will get students with good teacher role models. When there isn't the kids will hopefully get a positive role model from elsewhere. The problem for the younger generation is that there appears to be a distinct lack of positive role models for them to look up to.

[Robski]

I once new a guy who thought he was Napoleon. You can convince yourself to believe anything, if you so wish.

Good mate of yours was he? can you prove it? Haha.

The fact is it doesn't matter whether your a teacher, a psychologist, a sociologist or a brain surgeon, you have to have the right credentials, a whole lot of experience and some pretty firm research before you will be accepted by your peers as being knowledgable enough to produce such a theory.

[BangkokBillyBoy]

I once new a guy who thought he was Napoleon. You can convince yourself to believe anything, if you so wish.

Good mate of yours was he? can you prove it? Haha.

The fact is it doesn't matter whether your a teacher, a psychologist, a sociologist or a brain surgeon, you have to have the right credentials, a whole lot of experience and some pretty firm research before you will be accepted by your peers as being knowledgable enough to produce such a theory.

You don't have to know someone for them to be a mate. He was actually a schizophrenic. The point being is that the author can believe what he likes as can anyone. But just because you believe something only makes it true to you. That's what theories are.

[GuestHouse]

I absolutely agree with the premis that the gender of the teacher has an impact on the learning of children in schools.

Primary schools, and to a lesser extent secondary schools in the UK have become 'Feminin institutions' the whole ethos of primary education in the UK is female.

Not surprisingly girls thrive in that environment while boys do less well.

Go to any of the 'performing' boys schools in the UK and you'll find classrooms run by mostly male teachers.

Hardly rocket science.

IMHO a good role model can be either male or female. It just depends on the personal qualities of individual teachers combined with the needs of individual students.

Its a lot more than 'role model' it is precisely about the Ethos of schools and education.

A teaching profession dominated by women has become a feminin institution with a feminin ethos.

We need more men in teaching, the way to do that achieve that is to pay better salaries to teachers and there in lies the doom of any suggestion that women can teach boys as well as can men.

If it means paying out more in wages then it has to be wrong.

Edited October 31, 2006 by GuestHouse

[Robski]

And you base your 'theory' on the fact that if a schizoprenic can believe he is Napoleon, a rational person will believe anything he is told, that rational person won't weigh up the facts, but instead jump to a conclusion, just as a schizophrenic would. ok 'nuff said. nothing personal.

[ZZZ]

The point being is that the author can believe what he likes as can anyone. But just because you believe something only makes it true to you. That's what theories are.

To compare the credibility what your schizophrenic friend believes and the research results of Thomas Dee, an associate professor of economics at Swarthmore College and visiting scholar at Stanford University, is not a very good comparison.

The results of Dee’s research was not based on his believes but on the results of 25,000 eight grade students in the US. The results of this study was vetted and approved by peer reviewers.

Personally I think it makes a lot of sense much more so than that the opposite should be true. Obviously it’s a sensitive subject and not easily discussed in politically correct terms.

http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url...6100576311.html

Edited October 31, 2006 by ZZZ

[Scott]

I was familiar with the study when it first was published. I tend to agree. I have taught a number of classes for very young learners, including the 3 and 4 year olds. I was amazed and how well the boys did, since all my experience had shown that boys lag behind the girls.

It seems that a male teacher did help them. Of course, this is just anectotal information.

I also don't believe that gender is the pivotal factor. This is an area that needs a lot of research. Some years back it was noted by a researcher that children learn language better from a female voice than a male voice (this also included birds, such as parrots). So there may be a point when gender is more important than at other times.

With regard to the feminine ethos, I totally agree. I work in a school completely dominated by females and everything is designed in such a way for them to succeed--there is very little sports or activities that aren't feminine in nature. The classes are structured the same way. Boys, in general, need some physical release, they need to move to have hands on sorts of things. There is none of that here.