With a shortage of teaching staff in schools in Quebec and Ontario, its effects were exacerbated by absenteeism caused by the sixth wave of COVID-19. One of the solutions to overcome the problem is, according to some experts, to encourage more men to work in education.
By 2020, 25% of Ontario College of Teachers members will be male, according to official statistics.
Égide Royer, psychologist and specialist in academic success, thinks these numbers are even lower in preschool.
For Mr. Royer, increasing the number of male teachers requires better academic success among men. However, according to him, the current climate does not lend itself to creating programs targeting men.
The existence of interventions that promote the success of men or the existence of interventions that increase the participation of men as teachers is currently not radioactive, but it is not far off.he explains.
For Normand Bourque, a teacher at Saint-Edmond Elementary School in Windsor for nearly 35 years, the choice to pursue a teaching career is often associated with personality traits.
But Guy Talla, a teacher from Scarborough, said very practical realities, such as the opportunity to work in his community, could push men to choose teaching.
A question of models
Mr. Royer thinks the gap between men and women will widen unless action is taken to overcome this difficulty. He proposed creating a program in this direction.
Think of teachers currently in high school riding elementary school or whoever scouted high school in the 11th, 10th grade.He suggests.
” Let’s admit that it’s related to a scholarship program, it’s related to a way of mentoring to support young people at the university level, then we’ll see change. “
For Mr. Royer, as much as we think about setting standards and setting up programs that will help girls who want to become administrators or scientists, we should also think about setting up programs that encourage young men to go to programs they do not currently have. inclined to go on.
Mr. Royer said it is traditionally considered that there is something in motherhood about women that makes them more likely than men to work in schools, especially in nursery and elementary.
He said, however, that there have been social changes in recent years that now mean men are taking care of their children, taking paternity leave, proof that things can change, he says. He thinks young men just need role models to ignite a passion for teaching in them.
So I found myself as a student, as an elementary school student, to have encountered very few men. I have very few role models to say, “Oh my god, that’s what I want to do later.” We don’t see muchhe explains.
Mr. agrees. Bourque. In his long career, he has seen very few male teachers, he said.
For a long time I was the only man. […] I started my career, with a staff of 20 [enseignants] there were three men, four men, including the directorhe explains.
” At one point I can’t remember what those years were, maybe in the 90s I was alone a few years then one or two, and always have been. “
Mr. Bourque affirms that there is, in his personality, an affective-related aspect that puts him in the best disposition to care for young students.
Me, I firmly believe that the affective precedes the cognitive. So we’re really at this stage of building relationships with our students that are healthy and based on respect for others, and that may not necessarily be a habit that men are subject to.he explains.
Pragmatism
For Guy Talla, an elementary school teacher in Scarborough, the reason few men teach elementary school, in particular, is because society sees professions like teaching, health as more focused on womenhe explains.
He said there were about eight boys at the school where he worked with a teaching staff of about 30 people.
From Cameroon, he explained that teaching was not his first choice. He tried for two years to get a job as an engineer, because he was studying in the field in Quebec when he came to Canada.
She explained that working in secondary attracts her more than elementary.
Of course, I would be more comfortable in high school. The second is quite a specialty. Either you’re just teaching math or you’re teaching science or you’re teaching historyhe says.
” Whereas in elementary school, when you take a class you notice everything. […] So I would be more comfortable in high school. “
Although he says he loves his job, he nevertheless admits that there are very practical facts that explain why he has not yet acquired the qualifications needed to be a teacher in a secondary school.
In a city like Toronto, there are a few parameters you need to look for. The place where you choose to live is a parameter. If there is also a secondary school in the area, have the opportunity at this school. More people at the elementary level because the demand is higher therehe explains.
According to Mr. Talla, the demand for teachers at the secondary level is not as strong as at the elementary level.
And for Mr. Bourque, regardless of the gender of the teacher, the most important thing is that those entering the profession understand that it is a difficult profession.
Source: Radio-Canada
