ABSTRACT

Young children often look to their teachers for affection and acceptance, particularly if they are injured or upset. Yet, many male primary teachers experience substantial fear and uncertainty about making physical contact with their students. This study used 53 open ended survey responses and semi-structured interviews with five experienced male primary teachers in Tasmania, Australia to investigate the coping strategies and supports these men use to deal with this challenge. Findings revealed a variety of coping strategies and supports, and that the fear and uncertainty surrounding physical contact and false accusations needs to be reduced if more male primary teachers are to feel confident interacting with their students in the same ways their female colleagues do.

摘要

年幼的孩子经常向老师寻求爱和接纳，尤其是在他们受伤或心烦意乱的时候。然而，许多男小学教师在与学生进行身体接触时感到非常恐惧和不确定。本研究对澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚州的五名经验丰富的男小学教师进行了 53 次开放式调查回复和半结构化访谈，以调查这些男性用来应对这一挑战的应对策略和支持。调查结果揭示了各种应对策略和支持，如果更多的男小学教师要像女同事一样自信地与学生互动，就需要减少围绕身体接触和诬告的恐惧和不确定性。