THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410140249
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Education
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
READIN', WRITIN', 'RITHMETIC, and women teachers. That was then in elementary school. This is now: Foreign languages, video instruction, computers, male teachers.
It is taking longer to accept, but just as women have made inroads into formerly male domains, so it is the other way around.
``For a lot of people, the idea of a male teacher in the elementary grades is not the usual thing,'' says Tod King, a third grade teacher at Kilby Shores Elementary.
``The perception is that the male is supposed to be in high school. That's wrong,'' says David Parker, in his first year at Kilby Shores. ``They need to be everywhere.''
THEY ARE GETTING THERE. In Suffolk there are 17 male teachers working with lower-grade students - but that's 17 out of 326 - about 5 percent.
``We demonstrate the idea that boys can be in academics,'' says Hurley Daye, a fourth grade teacher at Kilby Shores.
King calls the influence factor ``incredible.''
If that is so, why are there so few men teaching lower grades?
``There's a myth that men can't relate to younger kids,'' says Otis Dowtin, in his second year teaching second grade at Driver Elementary. ``The myth is that they can relate to younger kids as a dad - someone to vacation or camp with, but not as a teacher.
``I think there'll be more men teachers in lower grades. A lot of times students have the `female' image. What male teachers do is offer an opportunity to see that men can teach and be good role models.''
But with positivism comes negativism.
``It's not nice to think about, but being a male - the way the world is - when something comes up men get negative publicity,'' King says. ``That bothers me. I try to cover myself by never being alone with a kid.
``That negative publicity helps no one. Female teachers don't have that concern as much.''
Craig Daniel's concern is mixing learning and fun.
``I keep things light, but when it's time for business I don't mess around,'' says the seventh grade Nansemond-Suffolk Academy teacher. ``I like being in the lower school. Kids seem to respond better to male teachers. A strong male is a frame of reference, especially for boys who need someone with whom they can identify.
``A lot of boys have said, `All we've had are women teachers.' ''
``Some girls feel more comfortable around women teachers,'' says Pam Speight, a seventh-grader, ``but with Mr. Daniel I feel I can joke around, be cool. I might get in trouble doing that with some women teachers.''
Daye sees a need for more women and men, ``for good teachers, period. Without education, you can do nothing.''
He likens his job to that of a missionary.
``I have a mission in life. I've been called to do a great work. It's part of my ministry,'' says Daye, an eight-year veteran of the local school system. ``I'd like to continue in the elementary grades. I pick those grades because we need to build a strong foundation.''
Parker, a 1962 Suffolk High School graduate, says he picked lower grades ``because I feel the majority of kids are from single-parent families, and I can be a role model.''
King sees another problem: ``There are a lot of dysfunctional families, so a lot of kids do not have the role model they might need.''
Parker, a veteran of 22 years in the Air Force, sees a need to work with elementary students because ``they are of an impressionable age. I thought I could help.''
Dowtin, who was in the Marine Corps three years, says he chose to teach lower-grade students ``because if you get kids at a young age, you can prepare them better. I'm fortunate to be able to do that.''
MANY OF THE CHILDREN say they feel fortunate having the male role model teacher.
Some of Parker's students at Kilby Shores had these thoughts:
Morgan Yeager: ``I like having a man teacher. This is my first man teacher. He makes us laugh. He's funny.''
James Copeland: ``I'd rather have a man because I'm a boy.''
Shante Holland: ``He's nice. He doesn't give us a lot of homework.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
David Parker, a teacher at Kilby Shores Elementary, works with
Sheila Clements, left, and Timeeka Holmes.
by CNB