German elementary schools 'rent' male teachers

30.11.2017

The Rent a Teacherman program aims to put more men in elementary schools. It's about time: In the state of Bremen, where the project is based, more than 20 percent of elementary schools don't have a single male teacher.

For many German children, seeing a male teacher during their first four years of schools is an extraordinary experience.

"Some kids are so confused, at first they'll call that male teacher Mrs. Patterson, or even Mrs. Mr. Patterson," Christoph Fantini, head of the teaching program at the University of Bremen, told DW. "They have simply never seen a man in this position, so they don't know how to address him properly."

Elementary school teacher is a woman's job in Germany these days. In 2015, there were almost 17,500 women studying to become teachers in grades one through four, but fewer than 2,500 men.

Those who end up working as elementary school teachers make less money than their colleagues at secondary schools in Germany. The difference can amount to several hundred euros a month, depending on the state.

Changing perceptions

Fantini: 'I don't ever want to stop this project, there have been so many great stories'

Fantini, however, does not believe that it's the prospect of earning less money that keeps men from choosing to become elementary school teachers.

"If you ask 18-year-olds, only very few of them even know what elementary teachers earn, compared to other teachers," he said. "But these young men know that being an elementary school teacher is considered unmanly. They're scared of having to comfort little kids, of this need for emotional closeness."

To change this skewed perception, Fantini initiated the "Rent a Teacherman" program five years ago. And Bremen sorely needed it: Out of 90 public elementary schools in the two-city state, 19 don't have a single male teacher.

The idea is simple enough. Male teaching students are matched up with all-female staffed schools in need. It's a win-win situation: The children see that men too can be elementary school teachers, and the students gain valuable experience and earn a little extra money.

How Germany celebrates the first day of school A cone full of presents The most important part of every German child's first day of school is the "Schultüte," or school cone. Apparently the thought of attending school every day for the next 12-13 years has to be "sweetened" with candy and presents - a tradition that dates back to the early 19th century. Parents fill the cones, either homemade or purchased, with treats, school supplies and small gifts. How Germany celebrates the first day of school The start of a new phase Most children in Germany are six years old when they start school in August or September, depending on which state they live in. The majority of them have already spent a few years in daycare or pre-school, which is not part of the public school and is less pedagogical in nature. For kids in Germany - and often their parents too -, first grade is a big adjustment. How Germany celebrates the first day of school Just the right backpack Ahead of the first day of school, parents buy their new first-grader a backpack, known as a "Schulranzen." They're often made with a square frame to make sure papers don't get bent and snacks don't get squished. Later, their jeans brand will be important, but for first-graders, it's crucial to have the trendiest design on their backpack. Star Wars and Superman never go out of style. How Germany celebrates the first day of school The school essentials After they get their square backpack, it will need to be filled with pens, pencils, rulers and folders ahead of the first day. In Germany, particularly younger children often don't have lunch at school. Instead, they have a mid-morning snack time and go home or to daycare for a late lunch. To transport their "Pausenbrot," or "break bread," they'll need an appropriate box. How Germany celebrates the first day of school A day to remember Many kids around the world pose for a first day of school photo. In Germany, they hold up their unopened "Schultüte" - which is often larger than they are - along with a sign reading something like "My first day of school." For many children, it's not the highlight of their big day. How Germany celebrates the first day of school Send-off with a blessing The first day of school in Germany doesn't start with school - but with a special ceremony. Parents, relatives and godparents are invited to join in. An ecumenical church service is usually included in the tradition, giving the young pupils a special blessing as they mark a right of passage and embark on their educational journey. Some schools offer an interreligious ceremony for Muslim pupils. How Germany celebrates the first day of school Guidance from those with experience During the ceremony, older children or teachers often give a small performance and explain to the newcomers how school works. In some schools, first-graders are assigned a buddy from third or fourth grade to show them the ropes. How Germany celebrates the first day of school Make yourself at home A tour of the school is included in the introductory festivities and first-graders are shown their new classrooms, which are labeled "1A," "1B," "1C," etc. depending on the size of the school. This chalkboard reads, "Welcome, class 1A." How Germany celebrates the first day of school The family get-together After the ceremony at school, families organize their own celebrations. Grandparents, relatives, godparents and friends are invited for a meal or cake to see the youngster of honor off into the brave new world of education. The first-graders themselves probably get annoyed at all the head patting and cheek squeezing - but they usually get a few presents to make up for it. How Germany celebrates the first day of school The second day of school After the ceremony is over, the cake has been eaten and the cone of goodies unpacked, the first day of school draws to a close. The next day, the first-graders have to find their new classrooms for their first lesson. Elementary school in Germany includes grades one to four. After that, pupils move on to one of three different levels of secondary schools, depending on their academic performance.

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Bremen's education ministry pays the salaries of the "rental" teachers, who spend roughly three hours a week in the schools. So far 36 "Teachermen" have worked or are currently working at 18 schools across Bremen.

Making math popular

One of the current "Teachermen" is Erik Schäfer. The 28-year-old handed in his Masters thesis in May and will officially start student teaching in February. But he already has five years of experience from his time as a "rental" teacher at the elementary school in the Kirchhuchting neighborhood of Bremen.

On a Wednesday afternoon in November, Schäfer sat down with four eager fourth-grade boys for his weekly math workshop. The voluntary class is for children with advanced math skills, and the boys got really into it.

"Herr Schäfer, can I do the next problem?" "Don't look at my worksheet, I'm already done!" "It's pretty easy, you just have to do some logical thinking."

Schäfer has built a relationship with the kids in his math workshop: 'I've known these boys since they were in first grade.'

The pupils sat around two tables, raising their hands just inches from Schäfer's face. They fought for his attention like young siblings might with an older brother.

"When I couldn't do this class for a little while, students came up to me every week, asking when the math workshop would start again," Schäfer said.

11 women, one man

Schäfer joined the Rent a Teacherman project to gain more experience. He says his time at the Kirchhuchting school has shown him that he can work well with young kids, and that he picked the right job.

He, too, has seen young students confused by a man at the front of the class. "It definitely took them a few weeks to get used to me," he said with a laugh. "And my long hair made it even more difficult."

The principal at Kirchhuchting elementary school, Ruth Rauer, is very happy to have Schäfer on her team. Her school, which has roughly 170 students in grades one through four and 11 female teachers, was one of the first to join Rent a Teacherman.

Many children don't have male teachers — and don't encounter male role models at home, either

"Our part of Bremen has high child poverty, and we want to take advantage of everything that will help our students," Rauer said in her small office next to the teachers' lounge. "Many of the children here grow up with single mothers, so there's already a lack of men in their lives."

Rauer and her colleagues would love to have another "Teacherman" at their school. "We cannot imagine life without a man at our school anymore!" said one of Schäfer's colleagues.

Cooking, boxing and being a teacher

The need for male role models in school is the same in all strata of German society, Fantini says. Children profit from seeing that there are no tasks solely for women or solely for men.

"A 'Teacherman' who had just started at a school asked pupils why they thought there were so few men around," Fantini recalled. "One boy replied 'Because women are smarter and men are stronger.' It's devastating when boys that young think they can't do as well in school as girls because they're not as smart."

"Teachermen" can help change that.

Asked what he thought was "manly," a boy who had had the benefit of instruction from a "Teacherman" listed cooking, boxing, dancing and being a teacher – exactly those activities the student teacher who had posed the question had told the class he enjoyed.

Carla Bleiker (Bremen)