I'm a female kindergarten teacher and am always very curious when meeting a male kindergarten teacher. I cannot understand why they have chosen a career path that has so much unspoken prejudice. Wouldn't the constant pressure and fear of being accused of sexual abuse be enough to choose a different career? Even as a female I am acutely aware of these issues.
User Detail :
Name : K26959, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 22, City : Sydney, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : Educator, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I understand what you're saying, but you also have to think about it in other aspects of life. Why is someone gay? I don't mean to bring up the great debate of nature vs. nurture and genes vs. choice, but think about it. If indeed, it is the person and not their genes choice to become gay, why do they do it? There is so much prejudice and hate in the world involved with it, and although I don't condone bashing of people based on their sexuality, it does happen. See my point?
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Name : Robert, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 18, City : Charlotte, State : NC Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class, Perhaps they wish to simply break a stereotype. With so many single-parent families, it could be a great thing to have positive male role models at an age for children when it could possibly make a huge contribution to the development of future generations.
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Name : RW30172, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 34, City : Brisbane, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : University student/hairdresser, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Middle class, Some people just won't give in. For me, if I worked at a daycare center, I would be haunted by nightmare images of an expensive attorney questioning me in a court of law. We live in a society where men are no longer supposed to be around children if they aren't their own. And that's a real shame.
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Name : Christopher D., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 24, City : Dallas, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : Customer Service, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, Why not? Male kindergarten teachers are as good as female teachers. Do you really think women are better than men? Seems like you are a female sovinist (=feminist) and a gender racist.
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Name : Fi21796, City : Vihti, State : NA Country : Finland, Perhaps they have a gift of working with children. I have met some men who are much more capable of working as a kindergarten teacher than some females. I think it's sad that a man is judged simply for choosing to work in elementary education because that is where he feels he can make the most difference. People don't examine women that much, when they feel they want to work in a profession that is male-dominated. I have heard many women comment on how men still act like children. So maybe this is what kids need - someone they can learn from and relate to!
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Name : Cruz, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), City : Manhattan, State : KS Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, I'm a teacher and get so frustrated by all the cynicism from older colleagues. If it were up to them, I would teach behind steel bars. My kids would be at arm's length, and I would not ever touch them. My kids are always hugging on me and wanting to be around me. I know the risk, but don't mind because some of these kids never have anyone show them affection. However, I'm not stupid. I'm never alone in the room with a child, and I always make sure that the contact is student-initiated. I think there is nothing wrong with male teachers in the lower grades. We should encourage more males in this profession. It is a shame that so many good candidates are being lost because of fear. The solution - supervision. If teachers were constantly being supervised, there would be no fear of inappropriate behavior.
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Name : ane, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Pentecostal, Age : 23, City : houston, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Yes it is a shame that there is a double standard in our society, but that is slowly changing. I'm an elementary education major, and people sometimes ask me, 'why?' I just like kids and have good rapport with them. I'm aware that some people think the worst, but in today's world of single parent homes, kids need positive male role models, and in a couple years when I graduate, I hope to be just that.
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Name : Bill23069, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 31, City : Ft. Dodge, State : IA Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, My father is a kindergarten teacher. He originally intended to become a high school teacher, but ultimately found it more rewarding to work with young children. What on earth is wrong with that? Many parents have told him that they appreciate having a male role model in their children's lives, especially nowadays with all the broken homes.
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Name : Candace, Gender : F, Age : 26, City : Vancouver, State : NA Country : Canada, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Women want to have a level playing field in the Corporate world Blacks want to have the same in life in general The only way to change these stereotypes and misconceptions is to do exactly what challenges it. I think it's crazy that we (people) want one thing but we are afraid of another.
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Name : AVEN23418, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 26, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Sales, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, My late father spent about 30 years in the teaching profession, with about 25 years in a kindergarten, the last 20 or so in his own private kindergarten and 1st grade. He felt that it was important to teach a child how to learn as early in life as possible, and had plans to change the educational system. Initially, he was going to develop his particular theory, (a mish mash of Piaget and Montessori), and either get his administation certificate, and set the guidelines for other teachers or teach at a college level and teach the other teachers. He settled into a classroom, and never left again. I think he was enamored of the adulation that the parents heaped on him and more than a little heady with being the King of Lilliputt. I think the parents raved about him so much because it was unusual to see a man teaching kindergarten, and he had a master's degree in early childhood development combined with a lengthy history of selling cars. He was smart, and knew how to sell himself. At the end of his career, he admitted that he had stayed in the classroom because it was easy, compared to the other original goals
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Name : Chris32156, City : Kemah, State : TX Country : United States, It is always those who willingly put the reputation on the line and are patient with the social perspectives slow to change attitude that make the changes. Those who take the easy road won't target the misconceptions about male kindergarten teachers. We must start to see that some folks out here have honorable motives. I love to play with kids and find it funny and fun when they wrestle with me. The kids enjoy it trying to stop the giant, or whatever. Does this make me a Pedaphile? No. Lets look at the motives and stop being superficial in our logic unto the harm of others.
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Name : Ted S., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 41, City : Wales, State : MA Country : United States, Occupation : Broadband Technician, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Middle class, 
jbParticipant
jesus was male... wasnt jesus a teacher?... i'm not christian, by the way.
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Name : jb, City : marianna, State : FL Country : United States, Let me submit to you that you do indeed make a reasonable argument. However, plenty of men teach little league or other sports with children and they do not have this issue brought up. So why is it when we have a male elementary or kindergarten teacher that everyone is afraid? What about the little league coach, peewee football or basketball coach, or wrestling coach? What about someone who volunteers with children? What about surrogate grandparents? There are plenty of other situations where males come into contact with children and no one is afraid.
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Name : Vaden Chandler, Gender : M, Age : 25, City : Springfield, State : CO Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, I work at an all-girl camp with girls from 5-17 years old. In this environment the prejudice isn't really 'unspoken,' parents bring it up all the time if they see any man or a woman they think is a lesbian (sometimes in very rude terms). We have to take hours of training to learn ways not to touch a child and risk being accused of sexual harassment. I plan on working with kids even after I'm through working at a camp. Why do I take that risk? Because it's something I love to do! It is something I am aware of, of course, but I know I am no child molester, so instead of running away scared I simply choose to do my best not to come off that way.
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Name : Jack19641, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 21, City : Oshkosh, State : WI Country : United States, Occupation : Camp Counselor, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 
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