If you think about it, many of the teachers at school are married. They have their income plus their husbands, so it works out. But the budget is tight for a person who wants to support more than just herself or himself on what a teacher makes.

Our society SAYS education is important, but school boards and the government show very little concern for encouraging teachers– the ones who teach everyone in our society.

Look up what the usual salary is for teachers in your state– and realize that the starting wage is inflated in order to attract first year teachers in the first place. Teachers who have been there longer don’t get much raise every year. We don’t get good health care programs usually– or they change every year and we have to wait a long time to see the doctor. Often inflation is higher than the raise we get.

Most teachers are there because they love and care for kids getting the skills they need. They are giving to America. They are investing in our nation. They are not there for the money.

The “gloom and doom” written above aside – I am a male High School teacher in one of the highest crime areas in the country, and though some days are very tough I love it and can’t picture myself doing anything else and enjoying it nearly as much.

It has to do, like anything else, with attitude (which is what I tell my students also in their work). And I get great support from other teachers, Admin. and the district which just paid for a week-long conference for me in San Diego to help students be better readers.

There is nothing like watching lives change and kids mature, get responsible and succeed. There is no other profession that does that like teaching – and our young people really need male role models.

I wish even more men would come into teaching.

As far as secondary ed goes, most men teach in science or math related fields, and it’s pretty obvious they could make more money outside of the teaching profession.

Also, it’s true that teachers are paid less because it is perceived as a primarily female occupation, as stated by the pp.

Most men in our society still want to be the “bread winner,” and a teacher’s salary doesn’t allow them to do that.

I think though that there’s a trend happening even in higher education.

I’m not sure, maybe there’s a stereotype roaming around about that’s preventing males from wanting to be teachers.

It is a very important job though. There’s a lot to say about the education system in this country, and I’m not sure about the sociological factors that may contribute to this trend.