Since the NBC Nightly News report and the Newsweek article there's been a flurry of messages posted to the Forum. Some veteran teachers share that they are unable to get jobs. Each of their stories is different but several feel that they are being discriminated against and not even getting an interview.
Some are saying that keeping salaries low is one of the reasons because more experienced teachers cost more.
Some are saying it has to do with ageism.
What do you think and more importantly - What do you think is the solution?
Persistence is my solution
I am not sure what the solution is, but I do think a lot has to do with normal human behavior. I left a 15 year career as an attorney to become a teacher, during that time I made many hiring decisions for staff, and recall that many times it came down to personal comfort level with a particular candidate. If I had two qualified people I would choice the one I felt the best connection with. As men entering an almost exclusive female work place I think many times it may come down to just that, deciding who they would rather work with. I also know that in the Chicago area there is a very deep pool of teachers looking for jobs which makes it much harder. There is also very hard financial issues for the schools to deal with, and there are not many men looking for these jobs compared to the number of women. I don't feel discriminated against, I just feel like it is a tough nut to crack.
My experience in schools has always been very positive and welcoming. I have not felt like an intruder or like an outsider at all, and have been told many times how happy the staff is to have a male in a teaching role.
The best solution in my view is just persistence. I have taken an aide job and am in the schools teaching, hoping to have a leg up this coming school year to land my first job as a teacher.