Teacher-Pupil Relationships in the Elementary School Classroom: Teacher-Gender and Pupil-Gender Differences

Abstract

This study examined teacher-sex differences in attitudes and behaviors toward male and female pupils. Observation data were obtained from the classrooms of 11 female and 10 male upper grade elementary school teachers. Following the 4½ hours of observation periods, the teachers described their attitudes toward their pupils on 7-point scales. No evidence was found for teacher bias toward pupils of either gender. A number of significant findings and nonsignificant trends combined to suggest that (1) boys received more reprimands than girls, and (2) female teachers were more positive than male teachers in their attitudes and behaviors toward their pupils. The combination of observational and self-report methodologies appeared to be useful in gaining a more complete understanding of teacher-pupil relationships in the classroom.