‘They won't do that; it's not macho enough’

Abstract

This paper describes a project aimed at encouraging the recruitment of more young men into primary school teaching and it explores the barriers they face. Set in the current context of concerns about the small number of men becoming primary teachers, it describes how men formed ‘professional friendships’ (Gardiner:1998,p.7),during a work experience placement, with a group of male teacher mentors and in doing so explored some of the stereotypical images inherent in a male primary teacher. The paper concludes with a discussion of the value of mentoring by men as a contributing factor to recruiting more men into primary teaching.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tor Foster

Tor Foster is Principal Lecturer in Education, University of the West of England, Bristol.

Elizabeth Newman

Elizabeth Newman, Award Leader PGCE (Primary) Course, University of the West of England, Bristol.