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Men 'put off teaching by child abuse legislation'

Posted on 21st July 2009

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Many men are put off training to become teachers at state and private schools by legislation brought in to prevent child abuse, it has been claimed.

The Campaign for Real Education stated a lot of males "feel quite nervous" about a situation where they could inadvertently fall foul of the law while working in the classroom, especially in primary learning facilities.

Chairman of the organisation Nick Seaton remarked: "If they so much as put a hand on a child to comfort him or her, they may be accused of child abuse or something."

However, he added it was "vital" boys were able to look up to men at school and suggested too many women "must be damaging" to the upbringing of male pupils.

Mr Seaton explained this process must begin at a young age, as kids may start to wrongly believe men are not capable of working in the classroom.

He was commenting following a recent drive by the Training and Development Agency for Schools to redress the gender imbalance among primary school teachers. ADNFCR-921-ID-19274672-ADNFCR