Male teachers key role models
Calista and Port Kennedy primary schools are bucking the trend when it comes to the decline in male teachers within WA public schools, both having more than five male teachers.
Picture: Year 4 teacher Shane Aitken teaching the class and student Bonnie Rowe.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released figures last week showing a decline of 314 male teachers within WA’s public schools since 1997.
A spokeswoman from the Department of Education said that 20.4 per cent of male teachers are working within schools in the City of Rockingham.
‘‘The number o f male teachers in Rockingham is 226,’’ she said.
Calista Primary School principal Glen Edwards said that Calista is fortunate to have four male teachers as well as himself and two male deputy principals.
‘‘We have about 33 per cent male teachers,’’ he said
Mr Edwards said he knows that more schools wish they had more male teachers and some of the decline may be due to retirement.
‘‘Having a male role model is very important because some kids relate better to a male depending on individual circumstance,’’ he said.
‘‘When I first came to Calista we had three more male teachers than we do now, but they have retired,’’ he said.
Port Kennedy Primary School principal Greg Smith said his school is lucky to have seven males at the school, including himself and the deputy principal.
‘‘It is valuable in the all round development of students to have male and female teachers, it offers students a valuable balance,’’ he said.
Mr Smith said the decline in male teachers had not affected his school but he was concerned about the lack of male student teachers.
‘‘I have noticed a lack of male teacher students in the past two to three years, and that may suggest there will be fewer male teachers in the future,’’ he said.
