Newsweek's Boy Crisis

I'm interested in hearing the responses that you get to this thread. I have some friends as well as relatives that have sons who are doing horrible in school. The boy's are capable of doing the work just choose not to do homework or study. All priviliges have been taken from them and it hasn't made any difference.

You know sleep, I really hope that others come and discuss the issue/the article. It really seems to be a national crisis, of many causes, that parents want to think about if they have boys.

I had the worst time accessing the webpage (my computer maybe?). anyhoo, I found the article to be way too much evolutionary psychology and sociobiology and not enough looking at the cultural basis. is this trend with boys across all cultures? nope, just one that we've created imho. my feeling is that back in my day when boys were achieving, we all had to sit and pay attn. what's changed is that teachers aren't allowed to teach, they have to teach to the test, kids are packed into large rooms and we allow kids to get away with poor grades. yes, boys can be different, but "science" doesn't at all explain why we've left them behind. our societal values explain it better. back in my day we had many adults to a class (often parental volunteers or paid teaching assts) and those are long gone in many classes. if you're behind, tough, you'll keep falling behind. in a large classroom, teachers notice but can't really do much-not enough time. and parents both work, so mom isn't there to spend time going over multiplication flashcards like she would have 40 years ago (and thanks to the economy women have to work in many states). I'm looking to the cultural and societal to explain the problem, not biology (and I love the way newsweek sweepingly lumped all scientists together to say something. heck, they're still battling most of this out in publication-geez!)

I would really be interested in schools switching classes into one-gender for academic classes (at least thru middle school or up to the 10th grade, maybe, even). I think a school in our town piloted a program or experiment like that a few years ago (over the span of a couple of years) and BOTH genders showed improvement. I like that schools are thinking of a way to deal with the problem of boys having an increased rate of ADD or other learning disabilities, and the fact that they don't like to "lose face," but there was a part of the article that bothered me (not the article, but the fact)... the author was describing how boys think, and then said that this hard-wiring was why video games appeal to them so much. I have always felt that the increased sophistication and availability of "electronic, entertainment media" (I guess you'd call it) really decreases the desire, need, (and therefore, ability) to read and to play/think creatively, and I think the variety of it (as well as the amount of it) contributes to shrinking attention spans. Do we need to make a concerted effort to change our educational system, or a concentrated campaign to change parenting tactics? Please don't think that I am saying parents with troubled boys are bad parents -- I actually think it is a changing society / world that maybe necessitates us to more actively get involved with trying to take more control over our children's development. (That may not even make sense). As far as the "feminist" -problem idea, I think there could be *some* blame there, but I don't think that is the real problem. D.

Feminists are to blame? I don't get that at all! For years women have struggled--in every level of education. Women still have an impossible time suceeding in the highest levels of our education system. There are so many more men in PhD programs and as faculty. But yet all of sudden girls start to do a little better in elementary and middle school, and it's a "crisis"? I'm not saying our boys don't need to do well. But our girls do too. These boys will still get better jobs, for more pay, with less education. What's the crisis?

We read the article last week. DH and I had already been discussing what we are going to have to do as parents as an adjunct to our children's education when we get our Newsweek and see this cover article. It's scary enough to know that other countries have greater systems to educate their children. Add to that this information about our lost boys in the school system and you have to start looking for ways to keep your child interested in education. We both work in enterprise technology sales and we see business being farmed overseas daily. We have these conversations with our friends and end up wondering what our children are going to have to do to be competitive when they reach the workplace and see that they are now competing for jobs with people from all over the world. What can we do to prepare them? We are working really hard to get our 4 year old boy to love to read and want to learn his letters. It's tough for him as English is his 2nd language and he missed out on some key early education during his time in an orphanage (he was adopted at 3). I am going to get him on the hooked on phonics program and look into getting him in a tutoring (reading, letters) program already. DH and I are going to keep exposing him to reading through his favorite subjects - books on dinosaurs and animals. I subscribed to "Your Big Backyard" a monthly animal magazine aimed toward pre-schoolers. We read it together. He loves getting mail so it makes it more exciting when it comes. These are little things, but we believe if he develops a love for reading, he will have a good foundation for education. As far as who is to blame for these boys getting lost in the educational system, I don't think it is the educator. I certainly don't blame feminism. I think it comes down to the parents. Aren't we responsible for making sure our children are performing the way they need to? If we insist for higher standards and better methods in teaching our boys, won't we see results in higher standards for everyone? It can't just be that one parent, everyone has to be interested in making things better. All I ever hear from my friends with grammar school children is the complaint that they get too much homework. My kids aren't in grade school yet, so maybe I am being naive, but I think that parents can help set higher standards of education by being involved. JMHO, Christina

D, I really agree that this can address some of the problem and feel that many parents (now and in the past) believe that gender specific classrooms can create an environment that addresses documented ways in which boys and girls perform/respond differently in various environments. Of course, it is always important to note that many many boys and girls do not fit any type of sterotypical gender personality, learning process or behavior. My mother, a former teacher (gifted and talented and special ed (ED and autism) and I have discussed this a lot in the last two weeks. I absolutely believe that there is a female bias. She has many stories and saw it first hand 20 years ago. Many teachers (please do not think I mean all) equate a behavioral standard with learning. Sitting quietly with both feet on the floor, maybe curious but polite and/or quiet indicates the learning process. Fact is: it ain't so. Many of those boys who are rowdy, physical may be bored or much worse are consistently given attention for their behavior rather than their successes. I do think it is a crisis. Boys are more likely to be labeled behavioral problems and more likely to be referred for special education and emotionally disturbed classrooms. I think there is a willingness, usually not a conscious one, to even treat girls with the same issues differently than the boys. And AA boys are more likely to be referred to ED classrooms. Why? Because while their behavioral may be identical to their CA counterparts, it is often perceived differently. Are there discipline issues and a current wave of children who have had none, who do not follow rules, listen well, show respect? Sure; boys and girls alike are exhibiting these parental lack of boundaries, but I think there is a far bigger issue and believe it is a national crisis. Do parents need to be more actively involved in their children's education and setting the tone for what is expected, acceptable and not acceptable? Sure they do. But. . . I think that much interaction between teacher and student is subjective. Early on teachers, through words and actions set the tone for childrens' desire to learn and to continue doing so. Don't misunderstand; I believe that the parents are first and foremost responsible for building the foundation for learning, setting an example and encouraging the continuing growth and interest process. However, I believe that teachers play an integral role in extending what parents are doing. I believe much of this bias explains why when students reach the college, graduate level that boys continue to suceed. There is no longer a presumption that their behavior which may be different from girls is a distraction, an inhibitor, a failure to learn but rather may be seen as a strength, leadership qualities. Please do not turn this into a discussion presuming that I am bashing teachers or making them responsible for what parents should be doing at home. That is not the case at all.