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 ...
It's become non-PC for a man to act like a man. And they wonder what's wrong.
Boils down to different gifts that we should appreciate.
I've noticed this is a problem.
Boys also account for 80 percent of Ritalin prescriptions. Coincidence?
"Boys also account for 80 percent of Ritalin prescriptions. Coincidence?"
I have been upset about this for some time now as I have observed what parents of boys go through..My opinion is that the Ritalin prescription and other medications are attempts to force boys into a feminine mold. If this had been the fad when I grew up, all my male cousins would have been "restrained" with medications. Then, it was understood that boys had lots of energy and a shallow attention span..They were given physical chores around the farm and their Fathers had disciplinary control of them. With the exception of a very few, all grew up to be responsible and very successful adults..Now, I will express myself on a male problem which has been with society forever but seems not to have a solution. I almost cried as I read about the efforts of Laura Bush here because I came to my computer this a.m. to research "Bullying" because it is a problem in my Grandson's school and during the last week a couple of boys (12 years old) have begun to bully verbally bully him..He is a big, good-looking kids and he does well in school. He is also a happy person with an intact family and he plays basketball and is quite accomplished on the guitar for his age..His school is supposed to have a big policy against bullying and we hope it will not go further than verbal..Also, I understand that girls are now bullying boys by asking them to buy expensive gifts, and if the boy will not or cannot, they and their friends will tell him how awful and selfish he is and will start rumors..Terrible stuff going on in the 12 year old world. The bent towards terrorism begins early..It seems that while boys are not getting the academic attention they need, they are also not getting the discipline they need when they show aggressive tendencies. I read online that 60% of boys who bully in school end up in legal trouble by the time they are adults. Many grow up to be abusers of their families..This problem needs to be addressed in tandem with the learning issues.
Almost every year my first grade boys are better at the girls at reading and math. It is especially true this year, even with a LOT more boys in the class. I do think later that some things happen. At least here, sometimes (with some people), it seems to be priorities. Is football practice and video games more important to school? It's a hard choice for some to make.
I agree completely with your statement.
Nerds and geeks often aren't considered very manly as adults either. It's our perception. Yet, to act like a "real" man often gets demeaned--as in being honest, hardworking, spending time with kids, etc. IT's TIME WE TOOK TIME TO APPRECIATE GOOD FATHERS TOO. Those are the real men, not just someone who "acts" manly.
Good mothers and fathers make a big difference too, probably the biggest difference.
The problem needs to be addressed by all of us, that's true.
No, they are by nature more active and have more energy THOUGH I am noticing more girls getting more active with more energy as well. HOWEVER, around here at least (not sure of other places), almost all medication is parent-initiated, and not necessarily based on the way they act at school, but often at home or in other social settings. I have one boy who could be categorized as "hyperactive" but he does get his work done and has made improvement over the year so far. He does drive me crazy, but he also has a kind heart so I can't fault him too much. His grandma raising him has him on some herbal stuff. Another student is on Ritalin. Not sure of all the reasons--part of it because he's active, but also part because he's listless too. It's totally on his parents' part and I figure they know better than I do (around here teachers can't make medical recommendations and I'm glad for that). He's doing pretty well in class.
I myself would love to see more male teachers out there, but I think that we will see less in at least the near future. The biggest factor though to me is having a strong and involved father. I am lucky that many of my students do, because they make all the difference (yes some have to work extra hours--it's the quality time that counts).
I am a public high school teacher. I can attest first hand that boys are in a lot of trouble, dropping out, not attending college, headed for prison. White males are the most forgetten group. Many are headed nowhere.
Indeed.
My son's third grade teacher told me she disliked little boys.
I told her quit teaching...
Boys are not girls. Never will be and this campaign against them is out of hand.
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.