福建师范大学外国语学院 2001级（1）班 蒋露西

When talking about a teacher, many people can’t help thinking of an icon: an amiable female with warm smile. Maybe it is the first impression about a teacher in most people’s mind. Such an image is associated with the conspicuous reality--- most of the teachers in primary and secondary schools are female. Although women’s sensibility and circumspection make them suitable and competent as children's educators, it is still urgent to have more male teachers for the sake of the comprehensive development of children.

It is well-known that teachers are asked to bear great burden---being responsible for teaching and cultivating young students. Their job is to impart knowledge and shape young children into competent and virtuous people. Teachers exert a great influence on theirs students through teaching and extracurricular activities. The teacher, when teaching a subject or discussing with his students, will no doubt bring into the classroom all his habits of mind, attitudes, beliefs , values and ways of doing things, which will influence the children and shape their beliefs and attitudes. The female teachers have their own advantages in cultivating and educating young students because they are sensible, careful and patient. During the period of fundamental education, it is really essential to cultivate these children’s personality and morals by taking advantage of female’s gentleness and grace. However, there are other aspects of children's development. And male teachers can make up for the disadvantages of female teachers.

On the one hand, male teachers are the image of strength and independence. When young students encounter difficulties, female teachers are inclined to calm them or even help them out immediately while male teachers prefer to let them solve problems through their own endeavors. When young students take part in class activities, male teachers act as a director rather than a delegate for everything, so that they can give students full chances to develop their potentials.

On the other hand, male teachers can play a very important part in cultivating students’ sense of responsibility and strive. The masculine personality makes male teachers the examples of students, which can’t be replaced by female teachers.

The comprehensive development of children is becoming the focus of modern education. Given the full chances to learn from both male and female attribute, children can gain a balanced and significant development. Therefore, people should change the conception that teaching is the job of women and encourage more men to devote themselves to the career of education.