Facing Extinction? Why Men Are Not Attracted to Primary Teaching

This book addresses the issue of the under-representation of men in primary school teaching in Ireland. It reports on the views of men and women who had entered the teaching profession in the last 10 years through a survey of 365 men and 248 women primary teachers, using a self-completion mailed questionnaire, conducted in 2004.

It contains information about school location/size; nature of posts held; and the motivations and career development of primary teachers, highlighting any gender differences. A key element of the study was to ascertain the factors encouraging or discouraging women and men into teaching and their levels of satisfaction with the job.

Finally, the book draws out the views of teachers about gender issues in primary teaching and whether/how a better gender balance in the profession could be attained. The study generated a considerable volume of quantitative and qualitative data, the latter in the form of comments expressed by the teachers. These provide important insights into the stresses and rewards of primary teaching as well as identifying how sources of dissatisfaction could be addressed.

About the Author

Eileen Drew is Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics and Centre for Gender and Women's Studies at Trinity College Dublin.