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I went to high school in the 1960s. It was about 50/50. Sciences, math, economics, history, geography, civics, shop taught by men. Women taught most of the literature, writing, foreign languages, social studies, and some of the practical ed classes (business, typing, home ec, etc.) We had male and female gym teachers and music teachers.
Most of the male teachers also coached sports. They were hired for the coaching abilities and assigned classes more for whatever was available rather than what their education dictated. Most of the women teachers were "sponsors" of after-school clubs and supervised the plays and musical productions.
The school administration (other than the school nurse) was all men — head of the school board, superintendent, principal, assistant principal, guidance counselor (who was a real idiot), security, buildings manager. Those were very admired positions in the Western Pennsylvania mill town I grew up in. Teachers were also well-respected. Not the way they're treated now.
I had only a handful of male teachers in high school, almost all female. Aerospace, weight lifting/Gym, and auto mechanics was it from what I remember.
I graduated from a Jesuit high school in 1971. During the entire time I was there there were three female teachers, plus the librarian. Without going back to check I would guess that about half the teachers were Jesuits, half were lay.
I would be more interested in the years for these ratios. I'm wondering if there are fewer men teaching because pay has not gone up over time...
From a family of teachers who came out of segregation where the teacher was more highly looked upon then now. One theory I have heard is that after 1972 without the stick of military conscription and the carrot of being a teacher as a deferment was a big factor along with Black folk being more welcome in general American society and more people could help their people in ways beyond being public educators,
Wow, I'm surprised that several people who graduated years later than I did mention the men teaching math, history and science. From middle through high school, tons of math and science teachers, at least, were female at my schools (I obviously didn't have each and every one personally) and I graduated in 1985.
Especially math - I recall so many female math teachers, not just in my school but in my friends' schools...I mean, just recalling talking with my friends about their classes and so on. (I had friends who went to other schools; private, or in nearby towns.)
In fact, I recently DMd (on a certain social media site) my favorite science teacher of all time, and she is a woman. I had her in high school for two different courses: IPS and Biology.
I don't know about history; that may have been more heavily male than female through the years.
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