TIM ROBISON KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
QUESTION 1 - Did anyone ever make fun of you for your decision?
I was never made fun of , people were extremely supportive.
QUESTION 2 - Did anyone encourage you to be a teacher
I wasn't encouraged to be a kindergarten teacher, rather, it was something I fell into. I was doing my fourth summer with the program ,the director asked me if I would please join there kindergarten team because they needed a male because they would do activities like going to the pool. So they needed a male incase any issues happened in the locker rooms .After three months of working with those kindergartens I was hooked . I started teaching kindergarten for eight and NEVER regretted that decision .
QUESTION 3- why do you think men to choose to be a secondary teacher more than elementary teachers?
I think there is a kind of stigma attached to men being an elementary teacher. People think it is cute and therefore men do not want to be associated with that. If I had an nickel for every time someone has said to me, “You teach kindergarten?! Oh, that’s so ADORABLE!” I could have retired a long time ago. The fact is that teaching isn’t adorable, it is hard work.
QUESTION 4 – Do you think it is important men are elementary teachers?
I don’t think the sex of a teacher matters as much as the quality of instruction coming from the teacher man OR woman.
QUESTION 5 – How can we encourage more men to be elementary teachers?
This is a good question and the hardest one to answer. I think men are more drawn to traditionally masculine roles in the workplace and teaching elementary-aged children is generally thought of as a more feminine role.
In the end I think what we can all hope for is strong, quality people to ente the elementary school teaching field who are able to instill the values of structure, discipline and hard work in their students whether the teachers be men or women.
t.
QUESTION 1 - Did anyone ever make fun of you for your decision?
I was never made fun of , people were extremely supportive.
QUESTION 2 - Did anyone encourage you to be a teacher
I wasn't encouraged to be a kindergarten teacher, rather, it was something I fell into. I was doing my fourth summer with the program ,the director asked me if I would please join there kindergarten team because they needed a male because they would do activities like going to the pool. So they needed a male incase any issues happened in the locker rooms .After three months of working with those kindergartens I was hooked . I started teaching kindergarten for eight and NEVER regretted that decision .
QUESTION 3- why do you think men to choose to be a secondary teacher more than elementary teachers?
I think there is a kind of stigma attached to men being an elementary teacher. People think it is cute and therefore men do not want to be associated with that. If I had an nickel for every time someone has said to me, “You teach kindergarten?! Oh, that’s so ADORABLE!” I could have retired a long time ago. The fact is that teaching isn’t adorable, it is hard work.
QUESTION 4 – Do you think it is important men are elementary teachers?
I don’t think the sex of a teacher matters as much as the quality of instruction coming from the teacher man OR woman.
QUESTION 5 – How can we encourage more men to be elementary teachers?
This is a good question and the hardest one to answer. I think men are more drawn to traditionally masculine roles in the workplace and teaching elementary-aged children is generally thought of as a more feminine role.
In the end I think what we can all hope for is strong, quality people to ente the elementary school teaching field who are able to instill the values of structure, discipline and hard work in their students whether the teachers be men or women.
t.