by Dr. Pelagio Vila, Jr.
THE classroom teacher is perhaps the most underrated and most misinterpreted person in our nation’s labor force.
I say this because as a classroom teacher before I assumed the post of administrator through my capacity as school principal, I have observed, and at times experienced, the numerous challenges, hardships and frustrations of a teacher, particularly a male one.
First of all, because I am but one of the very few breed of male teachers in our locality (and in the whole country, for that matter), I somewhat feel the foreboding discrimination. I would like to clarify however that what I am talking about is not deliberate discrimination in relation with my fellow teachers. It is the kind of discrimination that is seemingly inherent with male teachers all around.
For one, the teaching profession is predominated by females which is understandable because women are expectedly more nurturing and more patient with children, owing to their maternal instincts. Owing to this, there are more women than men who would want to be teachers.
For the reason that the teaching profession is generally a woman’s world, men who take up education to pursue teaching career are often mistaken for gays. “Nakakabakla”, is one term that a friend used to capsulize the predicament of men in the education department. To this however, I strongly beg to disagree because it has been proven time and again that men who love to teach and have professed full time dedication to the teaching profession are not diminished in terms of their masculinity.
Another setback of male teachers is their awkward relationships with their wards, especially in the high school (or even college) level, with the female students in particular. With the rise of reported cases of sex harasments, molestations and even rapes in the country, where some male teachers get involved in, the male teacher should be extra-careful in his dealings with his female students lest his actions be taken in a different light. Too much closeness and evident physical contact such as holding of the hands, hugging or even tapping on the shoulders – though outwardly innocent, may elicit reactions and wrong interpretations. Therefore, the male teacher should be cautious at all times and must not allow himself to be in situations such as being left alone with a girl student in a room or office.
Male teachers also experience bias in delegation of assignments. Because female teachers are considered more efficient, more focused and more organized due perhaps to their very nature as females, they (female teachers) are given more challenging assignments and more demanding jobs. Some might think that this could be an advantage to the male teachers because he gets to have less work – but it is not so. A teacher needs challenges and opportunities to grow professionally, to improve his craft and prove his talents and capabilities. Hence, to be given delicate challenging assignments is a big opportunity or him or her to prove his or her mettle. And this, the male teachers are generally denied because of the wrong and distorted notion that the female ones are more efficient than the males.
What I have pointed out however, is not a hopeless predicament. Times change, and people adjust to these changes. At present, there are many indications that our educational system is becoming less gender conscious in the hiring of teachers. What is given more importance now is the dedication, perseverance and passion for the teaching profession – characteristics which, for me, are not gender selective.