It's not just media perception. One accusation from a child (or from a parent on behalf of) and your career could be ended overnight. The schools often often won't investigate properly, trade unions want nothing to do with it, the media love these stories so it will get publicity.

I worked in a boarding school and I was warned by a co-worker to "never be alone in a room with a child." This was in the 90s and the culture of fear is (imo) much greater now. I've worked c. 15 years in education and there's no way I would go back to it now. Kids will make these accusations out of mischief, and I know from friends who teach that they know how to play the system.

So you want role models? Then let men be role models and stop treating them like they're halfway to being paedophiles just because they want to work with children.