In a not so recent USA Today article, Greg Toppo discusses the state of the average american teacher and the effect it has on the students. Toppo makes the argument that the typical american teacher needs to change. He claims right now that if the typical american teacher had a face it would be a white, female face. "Men make up only about 10% of elementary school teachers (Toppo)." This is a remarkable low number compared to the roughly half of the teachers that teach in high school are males. Toppo gives many examples of why he believes that males are not becoming teachers. He points out the fact that a less then spectacular salary that teachers receive. A closer look at Toppo's article and you can tell that he is not simply giving out facts. At first glance it appears that way that all the facts are meant to just explain what is going on with the state of teaching. Look a little more in depth at the article and you can tell that Toppo is actually making a claim that this is lack of diversity is a problem and even though much is being done to try and fix the problem that we need to do more. He uses many quotes from people who are making the same stance that more needs to be done to get more men into the classrooms as a teacher. While others claim that enough is being done about the problem with such programs as Teach for America and others, Toppo does not agree and points out all the facts to show us that the problems faced by America's students can be helped with more male teachers.
If you would like to read the article written by Toppo the link is below.
http://www.usatoday.com/educate/college/education/articles/20030706.htm
The fact that their are less male teachers in elementary schools is teaching boys that may want to be teachers that it is wierd. I know personally that my favorite elementary school teacher was a male. He was my fifth grade teacher and my only male teacher in elementary school. He lived across the street from me until my senior year of high school so I still talked to him about school and my life which was good to have. I think that the fact that teachers make less is a part of why there are less male teachers. Guys to me seem to feel liek they need to make more money to support the family and teaching isnt always the way to go. I think that there needs to be more male teacher in lower grades to teach young boys that being a male teacher is okay and fun.
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