KEY POINTS:
The male primary school teacher shortage is set to last, with women continuing to outnumber men in Auckland training courses.
Latest Ministry of Education figures show just one in five primary school teachers is a male, compared with 42 per cent in 1956.
At some primary schools, doors are opening for the new academic year with an all-female teaching staff.
It comes amid repeated calls to raise the proportion of male primary school teachers and follows yesterday's release of findings from University of Canterbury health education principal lecturer Penni Cushman that many primary school principals believe male primary teachers should be heterosexual, rugby-playing "real men" if they want to be good role models.
New figures from the University of Auckland Faculty of Education suggest the imbalance is continuing.
Just 15 per cent of its primary school teachers trainees are male this year, a figure that held steady since 2004.
For its early childhood courses the proportion was just 2 per cent this year, while it was 42 per cent for high school trainees.
Last year, 25 per cent of post-graduate primary teaching diploma students at Massey University's Auckland campus were male. Updated figures were unavailable.
Auckland University education dean Dr John Langley said more men would be attracted if the idea that working with young children was women's work changed.
Auckland Primary Principals' Association president Ken Pemberton said hiring male teachers was almost impossible. The Murrays Bay Primary principal said two male teachers on his staff left the profession at the end of last year because better pay and conditions were offered elsewhere.
At Oteha Valley School, on Auckland's North Shore, all of its 12 teachers are female.
Principal Megan Bowden said it would be "wonderful" to have a balance but the most important factor was having good teachers.
"You say to the parents ... would you like to sacrifice quality just in order to get a male?" said Miss Bowden. "The criteria is for the very best person for the job."
Many who wrote yesterday in response to the Herald's story on Ms Cushman's research supported having teachers from a diverse range of backgrounds.
"The sexuality of said teachers cannot be an issue," wrote Greg Soar.
Lisa Shepherd said her son "flourished" last year having a male, 30-something teacher, who was gay.
"Initially my husband (a typical Kiwi bloke) was a bit hesitant but after meeting with him to discuss our son's progress was convinced that you didn't need to fit a stereotype to be a good role model," she said.
"I could imagine that some principals would have missed the opportunity to have someone like him on their staff through their own prejudices."
A male teacher with four years experience in South Auckland schools claimed he was assaulted by a Year 8 student late last year. He believed being male was a factor.
"Principals think because you are male you should be expected to handle tough students," wrote the man, who would not be named. "I don't want to sound like [a] softy. When you see female teachers getting special treatment with your own eyes you think to yourself where's the equality[?]"
MALES MAKE UP:
* 1 per cent early childhood teachers
* 20 per cent primary teachers
* 43 per cent secondary teachers Source: Ministry of Education
Role-model task goes with 'brilliant' job
As a male primary school teacher, Gareth Fletcher feels he has to be a good role model for students.
The 28-year-old is reminded of it when he's out in the pub or with friends and family - in general, by people he meets day to day who say "Gee, you must have a hard job".
But most of all the physical education specialist at Gladstone Primary in Mt Albert sees it on the faces of the children at school, who he just senses might be missing something at home.
"You kind of look at the kids and think, 'Let's show them what they can do and what they might be missing out on'," said Mr Fletcher, who is just entering his sixth year of teaching.
A study by University of Canterbury health education principal lecturer Penny Cushman found most primary school principals believed more male role models were needed in schools.
The main reason respondents cited in her survey was to meet the needs of single-parent children, with sports leadership the second biggest factor.
Ms Cushman concluded that many primary school principals believed male primary teachers should be heterosexual, rugby-playing "real men" if they wanted to be good role models.
While Mr Fletcher, a former rugby front rower, ticks all the boxes, he said it was more complex than that.
At his school, male teachers and female teachers played mixed games against students.
"We are trying to role-model to kids, 'This is not necessarily a girls' thing, this is not necessarily a boys' thing'."
Mr Fletcher initially completed a building apprenticeship but turned to teaching after deciding that making houses wasn't for him.
At training college, women outnumbered men about eight to one and he admitted to sensing his male perspective was out of step at times.
These days, when the school bell rings, Mr Fletcher goes home with a sense of satisfaction and a feeling his relatively long holidays are pay-off for earning less than a corporate worker.
"It's a brilliant, brilliant job that I have."
Gladstone Primary principal Iain Taylor said the latest Education Review Office report on the school noted its boys' achievement levels were higher than national trends.
Mr Taylor partly credited it to having almost 30 per cent male teachers at the school, including its music specialist and Mr Fletcher, one of two dedicated physical education teachers.
