The percentage of male students who complete an undergraduate degree in the field of special education continues to be much lower than that of female graduates. Low status, low salaries, the perception of teaching as women's work, potential complaints of child abuse and sexual harassment, and a lack of male peer groups factor into this low percentage. Male teachers are needed to be positive role models for all children. The need for male teachers as special educators is paramount. The reasons for the gender disparity in special education are discussed based on the current literature, as is the need for possible strategies to encourage more male special educators.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Acker, S. (1983). Women and teaching: A semi-detached sociology of a semi-profession. In S. Walker & L. Barten (Eds.), Gender, class and education (pp. 123—139). Barcombe, UK: Falmer Press.
2.
Allan, J. (1993). Male elementary teachers: Experiences and perspectives . In C. L. Williams (Ed.), Doing “women's work”: Men in nontraditional occupations (pp. 113—127). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
3.
Allan, J. (1997). The persistent fewness of men elementary teachers: Hypotheses from their own experiences. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Sociological Society. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED418064)
4.
Artiles, A.J., Aguirre-Muñoz, Z., & Abedi, J. (1998). Predicting placement in learning disabilities programs: Do predictors very by ethnic group?Exceptional Children, 64, 543—559.
5.
Basinger, J. (1999, May 28). Two colleges train Black men to work in special education. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 45, A12—A13.
6.
Blount, J.M. (2000). Spinsters, bachelors, and other gender transgressors in school employment, 1850—1990. Review of Educational Research, 70(1), 83—101.
7.
Boe, E.E., Cook, L.H., Bobbit, S.A., & Terhanian, G. (1998). The shortage of fully certified teachers in special and general education. Teacher Education and Special Education , 21(1), 1—21.
8.
Brookhart, S.M., & Loadman, W.E. (1996). Characteristics of male elementary teachers in the U.S.A., at teacher education program entry and exit. Teaching and Teacher Education, 12, 197—210.
9.
Buxton, M. (2000). The African-American teacher: `The missing link'. BlackCollegian, 30(2), 116—121.
10.
Cohen, R.E. (2000, September 16—17). Schools in quest of a few good men. Bangor Daily News, pp. A1, A8, A9.
11.
Cook, L.H., & Boe, E.E. (1995). Who is teaching students with disabilities?Teaching Exceptional Children, 28(1), 70—72.
12.
Coulter, R. (2003). Boys doing good: Young men and gender equity. Educational Review, 55(2), 135—145.
13.
Coulter, R., & McNay, M. (1993). Exploring men's experiences as elementary school teachers. Canadian Journal of Education, 18, 398—413.
14.
Coulter, R., & McNay, M. (1995). Are more men in elementary schools necessary?The Canadian School Executive, 14(10), 13—17.
15.
DeCorse, C.J., & Vogtle, S.P. (1997). In a complex voice: The contradictions of male elementary teachers' career choice and professional identity. Journal of Teacher Education, 48(1), 37—46.
16.
Education special report: Someone to call sir. (2001, February 12). Time, p. 80.
17.
Freidus, H. (1992, April). Men in a women's world: A study of male second career teachers in elementary schools. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED346086)
18.
Galbraith, M. (1992). Understanding career choices of men in elementary education. The Journal of Educational Research, 85, 246—253.
19.
Grossman, H. (1995). Special education in a diverse society. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
20.
Guyton, E., Saxton, R., & Wesche, M. (1996). Experiences of diverse students in teacher education . Teaching and Teacher Education, 12, 643— 652.
21.
Haberman, M. (1988). Proposals for recruiting minority teachers: Promising practices and attractive detours. Journal of Teacher Education , 4(39), 38—44.
22.
Harry, B. (1992). Cultural diversity, families, and the special education system: Communication for empowerment. New York : Teachers College Press.
23.
Haselkorn, D., & Fideler, E. (1996). Breaking the glass ceiling: Paraeducator pathways to teaching. Belmont, MA: Recruiting New Teachers.
24.
Henry, T. (2001, January 30). Call them mister: S.C. program aims to boost number of Black male teachers at elementary level. USA Today, p. D9
25.
Huskey, J. (1998). Males in elementary education. KDP Record, 34, 68—71.
26.
Ingersoll, R.M. (2001). Teacher turnover and teacher shortages: An organizational analysis. American Educational Research Journal, 38, 499— 534.
27.
Johnston, J., McKeown, E., & McEwen, A. (1999). Choosing primary teaching as a career. Journal of Education for Teaching, 25(1), 55—64.
28.
Klecker, B.M., & Loadman, W.E. (1999). Male elementary school teachers' ratings of job satisfaction by years of teaching experience. Education, 119, 504—513.
29.
Kimmel, M.S. (2000). The gendered society. New York : Oxford University Press.
30.
King, J.R. (1998). Uncommon caring: Learning from men who teach young children. New York: Teachers College Press.
31.
Kunjufu, J. (1982). Countering the conspiracy to destroy black boys . Chicago: African American Images .
32.
Mancus, D.S. (1992). Influence of male teachers on elementary school children's stereotyping of teacher competence. Sex Roles, 26, 109—128.
33.
Montecinos, C., & Nielsen, L.E. (1997). Gender and cohort differences in university students' decisions to become elementary teacher education majors. Journal of Teaching Education, 48(1), 47—54.
34.
Nettles, M.T., & Perna, L.W. (1997). The African American education data book (Vol. 11). Fairfax, VA: Patterson Research Institute.
35.
Neugebauer, R. (1994). Recruiting and retaining men in your center. Exchange, 97, 5—11.
36.
Noddings, N. (1992). The challenge to care in schools: An alternative approach to education. New York: Teachers College Press.
37.
Pickett, A.L. (1999). Strengthening and supporting teacher/provider— pareducator teams; Guidelines for paraeducator roles, supervision, and preparation . New York: National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals in Education and Related Services, City University of New York .
38.
Pollack, W. (1998). Real boys. New York: Holt.
39.
Rice, C., & Goessling, D. (2000, November). Supporting male preservice elementary and special education teachers. Paper presented at the Teacher Education Division Conference of the Council for Exceptional Children, Las Vegas, NV.
40.
Rodriguez, E. (1997). What does gender have to do with it? Male teachers in early childhood education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Services No. ED415979)
41.
Sargent, P. (2001). Real men or real teachers? Contradictions in the lives of men elementary school teachers. Harriman, TN: Men's Studies Press.
42.
Sargent, P. (2002). Under the glass: Conversations with men in early childhood education. Young Children, 57(6), 22—28.
43.
Shade, B.J., Boe, B.L., Garner, O., & New, C.A. (1998). The road to certification: A different way. Teaching and Change, 5, 261—275.
44.
Silverstein, O., & Rashbaum, B. (1994). The courage to raise good men. New York: Viking.
45.
Thornton, M. (1999). Reducing wastage among men student teachers in primary courses: A male club approach. Journal of Education for Teaching, 25(1), 41—53.
46.
Thornton, M. (2001). Men, pre-service training and the implications for continuing professional development. Journal of In-Service Education, 27, 477—490.
47.
U.S. Department of Education. (2000). Digest of education statistics, 1999. Washington, DC: Author.
48.
Voltz, D.L. (1998). Cultural diversity and special education teacher preparation: Critical issues confronting the field. Teacher Education and Special Education, 21(1), 63—70.
49.
Walling, D.R. (1998). Recruiting men and minorities into teaching: A Phi Delta Kappa international special report Retrieved October 29, 2003, from http://www.pdkintl.org/whatis/reports/recruit.htm
50.
Wood, R.W., & Hoag, C.L. (1993). Male elementary teachers: Are more needed?Rural Educator, 14(3), 16—19.
