our first problem is that our public schools are pretty crappy. the only children getting a good education in public school, are those who are very self motivated. girls tend to mature faster, and probably are less distracted by hormones, etc.
i can not help but wonder if there is not another factor. there was a recent report about boys video taping and posting on the web, their fights. everyone from shrinks to reporters were wringing their hands about our violent society.
it did not seem to occur to any of them, that the boys were playing out the eternal rituals of coming of age. boys fight to prove their strength. they fight to impress girls. they fight to burn off some of that hormone energy that needs some outlet. it is as natural to them as breathing.
while i would not support letting the school yard bully have his way, or even support fighting at school, we have gone so far the other way, we give our boys dolls to play with. we tell them that fighting is bad. guns are bad. even running in the school yard is bad.
if boys are discouraged and distracted in school, is it any wonder? what are they to do when ages of genetic programing are at war with the current wimp behavior that is taught to them? study? fine outlet for a real boy!