Male Teachers

I read a response to this post at Fractions speak louder than nerds by Mister Teacher about the lack of male teachers. I thought I'd toss in my paycheck, I mean two cents.

As someone who has taught on both he middle and high school levels I can say that while teaching middle school I was often the first male teacher outside of P.E. that many students had ever had. It's a powerful position to be in. Students not used to seeing males in school can be reduced to convulsions with a slightly raised voice. Several wouldn't talk to me for weeks because they were simply afraid. With some students I was the only male they had (meaningful?) contact with in their day-to-day lives.

At my current high school the faculty is split almost 50/50, male/female. It's a good mix and the genders span all subjects avoiding subject-gender stereotypes. We also have all male (3) principals. It works because all three are for the most part professionals and in my opinion good at their jobs even if, after hours, the front office does occasionally resemble an eighth grade locker room (you haven't lived until you see a principal fart in the rookie A.P's office and run out giggling).