This review discusses and critiques the literature on men teachers and "feminised" primary schools from a feminist poststructuralist position. It is aimed at an audience new to the topic. The focus on "men primary teachers" as a field of research flourished as a consequence of concerns over boys' underachievement when an…

British government policy on teacher recruitment gives a high priority to increasing the number of male teachers, particularly in primary schools. This focus stems from concern to challenge 'boys' underachievement': policy-makers believe that 'matching' teachers and pupils by gender will improve boys' engagement with school. Yet there is little…

In many western countries, government statements about the need to recruit more men to primary teaching are frequently supported by references to the importance of male teachers as role models for boys. The suggestion is that boys will both achieve better and behave better when taught by male teachers, because they will identify with them and want…

In recent years, policy-makers in England, Australia and other countries have called for measures to increase male recruitment to the teaching profession, particularly to the primary sector. This policy of targeted recruitment is predicated upon a number of unexamined assumptions about the benefits of matching teachers and pupils by gender. For…

A study of the attitudes of British student teachers (118 male, 92 female) toward gender indicated that male student teachers of 7-11 year-olds were more likely to be concerned about and supportive of traditional images of masculinity than were males training to teach 3-8 year-olds. (Contains 33 references.) (SK)

Weighs the strengths and weaknesses of current policies on gender, ethnicity, and teaching in England and Wales. Critically examines the "role model" theory of teacher recruitment. Discusses the dilemmas encountered by male entrants to primary teaching and ethnic minority students preparing to teach in either primary or secondary…