Posted on 01/21/2006 11:25:45 PM PST by neverdem
First lady Laura Bush and a growing number of physicians, educators and psychologists say Americans need to wake up and see that boys lag far behind girls in school, and then demand that something be done.
Mrs. Bush, mother of two grown daughters, speaks at conferences and in interviews about the declining status of boys in today's learning environment. She has charged that boys are being overlooked.
"I think we need to pay more attention to boys. I think we've paid a lot of attention to girls for the last 30 years ... but we have actually neglected boys," Mrs. Bush told Parade magazine early last year.
William Pollack, a psychologist at Harvard Medical School, agrees.
"Boys are suffering. They are sitting in classrooms where they can't perform at the same level as girls and so cannot compete with girls," he says. "As a result, they have lower self-esteem. The bottom line is that they are suffering both academically and emotionally."
Mr. Pollack, who also serves as director of the Center for Men and Young Men at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., points out that both upper-class Caucasian boys and minority boys are failing.
"All in all, most schools across the country today are boy-uncentered," he says.
Michael Gurian and Kathy Stevens, co-authors of "The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life," back up claims that there is a "crisis in male education" with data from the Department of Education, the State Department and other sources. They point out that boys:
•Receive the majority of D and F grades given to students in most schools, as high as 70 percent.
•Create 80 percent of classroom discipline problems.
•Account for 80 percent of high school...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
There is no replacement for involved parents, be it a homeschool, private school or public school. I have been teaching since 1984 and I have seen wonderful successes and HORRIFIC failures in every situation. I have an 8th grader now that begs me 2-3 times a week to talk to his mom. She is "homeschooling" his sister for her 5th grade year and according to him the only thing she has memorized is the TV schedule. He has seen his mom fill in her workbooks to show to his dad how great she is doing. I give him books to take home to read with her. It is the only thing I can do. I'm not in charge of her child, she is. On the other hand, my college student is rooming with a former home schooled student and is thrilled to have such a nice kid. We were worried about too much partying, but it hasn't happened. No one group has a monopoly on excellence or failure.
This sounds sort of granola but it works for us for the time being- I am an unschooler. My best advice to you is to join a local homeschool group and ask questions, volunteer for anything you can to do with your school district, and start reading everything you can get your hands on!
I did research for three years and wrote up a business plan style research paper before I decided to homeschool. It was a difficult decision and it weighed heavy upon my mind for a long, long time. Don't let anyone tell you that you are starting too early- Your child's education is an important thing to spend time on. And remember this- no matter what you decide you will make the right choice for your family - if you take the time really think about it from your heart. Good luck!
Man, I was wondering when you were going to get to me. I thought you were too busy watching Mean Girls or something. I was starting to feel left out.
I am glad that I have the privilege of associating with so many good parents around here.
I agree, that some advice to be dished out is probably not politically correct, as you are good at doing.
Family is of the highest importance that's for sure. And I know you full well know that because you were a good Mom. I am thankful for many good moms and dads out there.
My job is not to "influence" parents. If parents have to go elsewhere for "influence" then it's not good. I do compliment many parents on the good job they are doing.
Yes, I agree that single parenthood is not the best thing, having both parents is, though sometimes there is a crumb of a spouse who leaves one with all the rearing to do.
Like you, I am glad I had good parents to raise me and from whom I learned a lot.
Um.... you really do not want to get Winter's dander(uff) up about homeschooling. I personally have nothing against it and respect those who do because I do see it as a viable choice. I appreciate the ones we have around here.
But I do agree completely with your statement about involved parents. Make that TWO involved parents. It all starts in the home.
I appreciate your remarks too. Things that my own mom followed. Just curious, are you related to someone in the military?
There are no good public schools in Georgia. Not by my standards anyway.
But this is a fact. Homeschooling, done right, is the best situation for any child. It is one on one with instant feedback in an comfortable environment. Done wrong, it can be a nightmare beyond all imagination. Several years ago, I had a student who had been "home schooled" her whole life. She was almost non-verbal. Her expressive vocabulary was under 500 words; her receptive was somewhat larger. The local child protective services had taken her from her parents. She screamed when she saw crowds of kids; she ran down halls yelling at the top of her lungs. It was a nightmare for her and everyone else. About 6 weeks into her 6th grade year, she was institutionalized for repeated suicide attempts.
I don't care whose feathers I ruffle. You know if you do a good job. Keep on doing it. But don't stick your head in the sand and pretend that every parent out there is good and righteous because some use the excuse of "homeschooling" as a dodge for abuse.
From what I've read here at FR, these are good people who do the right thing day after day. That's great. Wish we could clone them.
And to of course be entirely fair, I've seen some public school brats that if they showed up in my neighborhood, I'd lock the doors.
No real criticism of the Catholic schools I taught in, with the exception of REAL over crowding. My smallest class had 35 in it. But, good kids. I may go back to a private school when I end my time where I am now.
Heck, we were pretty "sheltered" too. We never had cable TV or video game systems (even though they were widely available), our TV time was limited, and my parents kept strict tabs on our friends, where we went, and expected us back at a certain time. If we weren't we lost privileges.
I don't care about whatever labels anyone wants to put on it, I respect good parents period.
There are a GREAT many people here at FR who are good, genuine people. I have found that out after going on a local forum with a lot of liberals. They keep going on these anti-Christian and anti-Bush rants. But they can't stand my one-liners. Hehe. I even made one say uncle. HOHO As far as clones leave Korea the heck a clone.
The girl my daughter rooms with is a gem. I had forgotten that kids other than mine said "Yes Ma'am' and "No Ma'am" She was homeschooled through 12th grade. Her mom was able to teach her Calculus well enough that she passed the placement exam and was exempt from it. I was impressed to say the least.
Lower mandatory school age to 12 years old. Schools that are relevant to life will spring up.
I absolutely shudder to think where we will be in 10 years. Things have changed so much since my time began in 1984. I am currently teaching 8th grade English--soon to be high school --you?
First grade. I am trying everything I can do at least to be a force for good in my own community. It is a fast growing community, but I don't want it to lose its small-town charm. I happen to live in the neighborhood I teach, but I wouldn't if I taught older grades probably.:)
Uh-oh 3 teachers on a FR thread at once. The apocalypse is near!!!:)
CORRECTION. All of you wonderful parents are teachers. I am merely a bystander. Sorry about that.
Quick! Ping Amelia! That'll be 4!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.