Waiting For Any Man

Last week my school had a baby shower...I didn't go.

It's not that I have anything against baby showers. I just didn't want to be the only man in the room.

I have been thinking about that a lot lately. Being the only man in the room is starting to wear on me a bit. The people I work with are incredible. They are the sorts of teachers we all hope and wish for. I just wish I wasn't the only man.

But I am usually the only man.

I have been thinking about my near decade in education. I have worked at 3 different schools. I have worked for and with 6 different principals 5 of who were women. I have worked with nearly 100 different teachers over my time in education. Of those 100 teachers only 9 others were men.

At some I just got used to the fact that when I would attend at meeting at the district office, or a staff development session somewhere, or served on a school site council, etc. I was going to be the only man in the room.

I love everyone I have had the chance to work with during my time in education. I just wish that there were some more men to work with, bond with, and share the male experience with. I don't think it is healthy to always be void of that connection that comes with being men. (And vice-versa for women) To go day after day without a "Hey brother, did you catch the game?" or handshake, or some just some general guy commiseration, bonding, friendship, and perspective.

While the rest of the nation debates Waiting for Superman, I have been silently been debating the impact on education and myself from having so few men in elementary education.

I don’t need superman. I am waiting for any man.