Macon, Ga. ? In most jobs, Ralph Matthews could hardly be considered a minority. But inside this colorful Bibb, Ga., classroom, before an antsy group of third-graders, Matthews stands out.

He teaches elementary school students.

The 45-year-old, who is in his second year of teaching, is one of only two male teachers at Lane Elementary School, and one of 44 men teaching at elementary schools across the county.

Forever, it seems, elementary school classrooms have been the domain of women. Tradition and a lack of competitive pay are often cited as barriers by men considering jobs in the lower grades, or any grade.

During the past decade, the number of male teachers nationwide has declined to 25 percent from 35 percent, and elementary teachers make up less than half of that figure, according to the National Education Assn.

Now, mounting evidence that boys are being left behind in school is calling attention to the yawning gender gap among teachers and the possible effect that the absence of males at the blackboard can have on young students.

The lack of a male classroom presence during early grades may contribute to discipline problems and poor attitudes toward education among middle school and high school boys, according to a recent U.S. Department of Education report.

Boys at the elementary school level are more likely to repeat a grade than girls, are more often shunted into special education classes and are more likely to have their parents contacted about behavioral or schoolwork concerns, the report states.

As educators become increasingly aware of potential consequences for children of single-parent families, they point to the importance of male teachers in elementary schools.

While male teachers may benefit boys, their presence also provides girls a picture of men outside typical roles of coach and principal. It gives them a more realistic view of society.

“Men show boys what they could become,” said Bryan Nelson, a former teacher and director of MenTeach, a Minnesota-based organization to recruit male teachers. “And girls need to see a nurturing male in order to see what kind of men they’d like to have in their lives.”