Issues, Etc. Male Attrition from Elementary School Teaching – Dr. Scott Yenor, 11/4/25 (3083)
Nov 4, 2025
Dr. Scott Yenor, a political science professor at the Claremont Institute and author, explores the decline of male teachers in elementary education. He reveals that male representation has plummeted from over 30% to just 11%. Yenor argues that factors like changing school culture and less discipline, rather than pay or stereotypes, are driving men away. He highlights how these shifts correlate with falling student achievement and discusses the influence of feminist ideologies within education programs.
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Dramatic Decline In Male Elementary Teachers
- Male representation in K–6 teaching fell from over 30% in 1970 to about 11% today.
- Scott Yenor links this to a systemic change in who enters the profession, not just pay or stereotypes.
Pay And Stereotypes Are Inadequate Explanations
- Lower pay and gender stereotypes don't fully explain male attrition because teacher pay adjusted for inflation is higher now.
- Yenor notes other fields like nursing show changing gender patterns despite stereotypes.
Institutional Shifts Changed Teacher Appeal
- The nature of elementary education shifted toward less failure, lower standards, and different disciplinary norms.
- Yenor argues those institutional changes made teaching less congenial to male psychological tendencies.
