Males are needed in education in SXM, especially in front of the classroom

If you walk into most classrooms on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten today, you will quickly notice something, not just the bright young faces full of potential, but also who is standing at the front of the room. In many cases, it is a dedicated, hardworking woman. And while our female teachers continue to do an incredible job shaping our children, one question quietly lingers: where are the men?

This is not about taking anything away from the women who have carried our education system for decades. It is about recognizing a gap that is becoming more visible and more impactful, especially for our young boys.

In Sint Maarten, many of our children are growing up in single parent households, often led by strong mothers doing their very best. But that reality also means that for some students, particularly boys, the absence of consistent male role models is real. For these children, school is more than just a place to learn math and language; it is a space where they look for guidance, structure, and examples of who they can become.

Now imagine the difference it makes when a young boy sees a male teacher at the front of his classroom, someone who looks like him, understands his struggles, and shows him, by example, what discipline, respect, and responsibility look like. That representation can be powerful. It can change attitudes, improve engagement, and even influence life choices.

It’s important to understand that this impacts all students, not just boys. Girls also benefit from seeing men in positive, nurturing roles. It helps shape how they view leadership, respect, and partnership in the real world. A balanced classroom environment, where students are exposed to both male and female educators, creates a more complete and grounded learning experience.

So why are more men not stepping into teaching?

Part of it comes down to perception. Teaching, especially at the primary level, is often not seen as a first choice career for men. Some view it as low paying, others as lacking prestige, and there are still lingering cultural ideas that education, particularly working with young children, is women’s work. These are outdated notions that do not reflect the true value of what teachers do every single day.

On the Dutch side of Sint Maarten, where we are constantly talking about building our nation, strengthening our institutions, and preparing our youth for the future, we cannot afford to overlook the importance of who is shaping our children at the earliest stages. Teachers are not just educators, they are mentors, role models, and, in many cases, lifelines.

If we want to see more men in our classrooms, we have to be intentional. That means elevating the status of the teaching profession, making salaries more competitive, and creating real opportunities for growth. It also means reaching young men early, encouraging them, mentoring them, and showing them that standing in front of a classroom is one of the most impactful ways to serve their country.

The University of St. Martin must play a much stronger and more intentional role in this effort. I say that not just as an observer, but with pride as the first male to graduate from USM with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Education. That moment meant something, not just for me, but for what it represented. It showed that more men can choose this path, and that there is space for us to lead in education. USM has the opportunity to inspire, recruit, and develop more male educators who will go on to shape the next generation.

We need to have the conversation at home, in our churches, and across our neighborhoods. We need to tell our young men that teaching is not just a job, it is leadership. It is nation building.

Because at the end of the day, this is about our children.

It is about the young boy in St. Peters who needs someone to believe in him.

It is about the student in Dutch Quarter who is searching for direction.

It is about the future of Sint Maarten, sitting in classrooms today, waiting to be inspired.

Our education system does need fixing, and it also needs strengthening. And part of that strength comes from balance.

We need more men in our classrooms.

Not someday.

Now.

‍