Substitute teacher Mr. Lawrence offers up yet another theory for why there are so few male elementary school teachers:
But most aggravating of all in elementary schools is how many times I've had to repeat the assignments to them. I've even written them on the board and taken to pointing. I make sure all the details are up there, like what page, what questions to answer, whether or not they need to use complete sentences, whether or not they need to re-write the questions. Still, they'll look at me in complete puzzlement and ask, "What do we need to do?"
It's no wonder there's a lack of male teachers on the elementary levels. The students are all in need of patient mother figures to guide them along. I am evidently not the nurturing type.
On the other hand, when he’s substituted at high schools, Mr. Lawrence has had issues with student T.A.s being a bit too nurturing.
(From Get Lost, Mr. Chips.)
