Uncommon Caring : Learning from Men Who Teach Children

Why do so few men choose to teach young children? And who are the men that do so? The author and a group of male primary grade teachers tell their stories and offer in-depth descriptions of what it means for them to teach young children. They discuss a wide range of topics, including discipline, classroom talk, curriculum, physical contact with the children, relationships with other (female) teachers, and issues about sexual orientation that all of them―both gay and straight―must deal with. Analyzing these discussions using a post-structuralist lens, the author examines gender, childhood, sexuality, and caring in relation to primary teaching.

James R. King is Professor in Childhood Education at the University of South Florida, Tampa