The war against Boys

So I just got finished reading a book called "The War Against Boys" by Christina Sommers, and it has definitely opened my eyes. I always used to think that the "Masculinty is in crisis" trope was paranoid right wing Christian propaganda, but now I kind of see where they were coming from.

The book was written in 2000, and it deals with the fact that boys in America are falling behind girls every year in testing, high school and college graduation rates. Many educators have subscribed to the idea that girls are still the most disadvantaged sex in K-12 schools and have put all of their efforts behind promoting the well-being of schoolgirls.

With all of the evidence in front of us, it's obvious that the plight of schoolboys in America is purposely being ignored in favor of the myth that girls are still oppressed in early education. These educators also have begun to talk about boys as a group that needs to be rescued from all forms of masculinity.

In their efforts to make things fair for boys who don't conform to the masculine ideal, they have implemented school policies that are not only harmful to boys, but also dangerous.

Some of these policies include:

- Proposing that there are no differences whatsoever between boys and girls and that all gender attributes are the result of socially constructed stereotypes.

- When a group of educators tried to start an all boys university in Florida, the ACLU and the National Organization for Women fought to ban it from happening, and won. Yet these same organizations see no problem with all girl schools that cater to their learning needs.

- Discouraging and sometimes outright banning of rough and tumble play, as well as playground competition, calling it violent and oppressive to kids who aren't as physically capable, ignoring the fact that kids who engage in such play know that not everyone is on the same level physically.

- Instituting policies that disallow winning and losing. Kids are encouraged to just play without competition and rewards, two things that are essential to adult life.

I could go on, but you get the point. Basically, boys are growing up these days learning that competition is bad, winning is bad, strength is bad, anything that resembles maleness is bad, etc. I'm certainly not the ideal male by any means, but when I was young, I was a typical boy and engaged in typical boy behavior, and I understand that there are things that make us different from girls on an average level. While I believe that kids who are different should be protected from bullying, we shouldn't tear down boys who are traditionally male in an effort to be more diverse or tolerant. We need to respect everyone, not just certain groups.

On a final note, Sommers makes a good point about progressive vs conservative education. She mentions that when the education system becomes more progressive, boys tend to suffer while girls tend to do better. In schools with a more traditional system of learning, boys do better. This is why I think sex segregated schools could actually work, because the learning needs of boys and girls might be respected more.

This is a topic that I've had fun reading and learning about, and I'd like to see your guys' take on it.

Discuss.

 

Girls fairing better than boys in school isn't just an American phenomenon, it's also evident in Australian schools.

As a teacher in a developing country, I find girls generally try just that bit harder, not always but generally. If there's anyone really dynamic in the classroom it will be a female. I have also found girls don't have egos, they'll often step 'out of the box' to try something different or new, and not be afraid to make mistakes. Some boys seem to 'lose face' if they make a mistake. Girls, generally have a stronger work ethic.

 

when I was in high school a class called "home ec" was a requirement for every girl.

Of course, "home ec" taught such "necessary" skills as cooking, doing laundry, shopping, and other "skills" women needed.

As a boy I was required to take a shop class where I learned how to cut stuff up and hammer it together.

that's all gone now.

Because girls are going faster does not mean boys are going slower.

I don't object to segregated schools because it relieves some of the social pressure on both genders but, I believe it may not be workable because inequalities in education resources would invariably result. Boys gonna field a football team. do the girls get the same money?

 

Does this make a case that co-education is a failure?

 

It could. One of the later chapters in Sommers book talked a lot about the success of segregated schools. She said that British politicians have tackled the problem of male underachievement by creating all boys schools. In just a few short years, their tests scores went up on average 50%. Other things like classroom behavior generally improved.

I'd personally like to see an attempt at sex segregated schools in America, as long as organizations like the ACLU can back off and let educators do their thing.

 

You'll find most sex segregated schools are private schools. Students, whether male or female are expected to do better in private schools, usually.

 

I went to private school ten out of my twelve schooling years. It wasn't gender segregated, but it was very traditional, so I never really experienced the kind of social engineering that goes on in public schools these days. That's one of the reasons why I found this book highly interesting, because I didn't know this stuff was going on.

 

Was your schooling done in the Christian based education system?

 

Yep, even though I came out of it as an agnostic. Private Christian schools do tend to have better standards than the average public school these days, though.

 

They are also pretty much into social engineering.

 

Any place that teaches you a belief is technically practicing a form of social engineering. It's up to parents to decide what kind of engineering they want for their children.

 

If one considers expecting students to dress like students as opposed to "thugs and/or street walkers, completing assignments on time and turning them in, following basic rules of behavior and civility while at school, then yes, they must be into "social engineering".

 

Now for something different, I've always been one for school uniforms in both state and private schools.

Watch the 'freedom of choice' advocates come in and slam my opinion.

 

The parents are making that decision by their choice of a particular private school.

 

One of the two WORST public schools near us chose to start a school uniform program. The parents were, at first, against it until they realized the cost reduction in clothing. They became even more enthusiastic when there was a major decline in discipline issues and an improvement in student behavior and some improvement in grades.

 

I have found that in the Public School System the problems are mounting as there just isn't any Teachers or Administrators willing to take responsibility for their total inability to tach kids.

Listen...if it is your job to teach and you can't do your job...you should be replaced.

AboveAlpha...what kids wear for clothing is a non issue.

 

It makes me SICK to think a great game like DODGE BALL is banned in public schools. As well students who are indoctrinated into the FANTASY WORLD at school where no one wins or looses poorly prepares kids for the real world.

Kids should be encouraged and pushed to allow them to see just how far they can go and how much they can accomplish if they work at it.

AboveAlpha

 

It is extremely difficult to teach when students fail to do assigned work and Mommy/Daddy are making excuses for the students irresponsibility.

We absolutely agree on replacing inadequate teachers.

What kids wear is an issue when it is a distraction in the classroom due to extremes. Please visit a middle school soon and determine whether a great many of the girls are students or prospective street walkers.

 

There is your problem. You used a phrase that is not in the educational lexicon for students, ie. "work at it".

 

If they can afford it, other wise they have no choice and get the progressive dominated one. Thats one of the advantages of privatizing schools along with vouchers, parents would suddenly gain choice. Parents of boys might look for boys schools that cater better for them - that might include co-ed as i think theres positives the genders can learn from one another. Any way it comes down to choice, which the current system doesnt offer and locks most people into the progressive social engineering programs.

 

In the US school uniforms are coming back. Bullying is the target. It is generally thought that children use their clothing to differentiate themselves, single out non conformist and then victimize them. The solution is to make everyone wear the same thing.

The boy/girl thing is different. Teachers are encouraged to ignore or criticize boys more because they are trying to counter a sex bias, and want to encourage girls to participate more.

This is thought necessary because in blind studies teachers (mostly women) have treated girls participation in this way (they ignore them and are overly critical). And have been completely unaware of their bias.

The problem is that this makes teachers hyper aware of real and imaginary bias towards boys, and the countering of it may be overzealous.

I tend to think outside the box. The teachers I had were good, but not perfect. They never will be perfect. I think micromanagement is the problem. Just let them do their jobs.

Most of the people worried about this are concerned because in an effort to conform boys may take on more feminine traits, and be more likely to feel inferior or lacking in what it takes to succeed. The boys who cannot conform to this more feminine dominant form of teaching may be more confused an rebellious.

The Brits and other european countries have already started to favor sex separation. Maybe for the best. But we have always had mixed sex public schools in the US and it is a hard thing for local politicians or groups to discuss without lots of emotional baggage.

After they are separated which sex will get the best teachers? The most funding? The most attention?

Seeing this whole thing as a problem just creates more problems, confusion, and parental angst.

I think parents are the key. Love your kids, really love them, and they will do just fine.

 

I was in the past an Eagle Scout and I taught inner city kids how to swim, survive, forestry, CPR...and a host of other things.

I have for over 3 decades been asked to do a...JOB where I work with members of the U.S. Military. I am not Military I am..."CIVILIAN" in the manner the quotes denote. I am an expert in a great many fields such as Jungle, Arctic and Ocean Survival...and expert in several forms of Martial Arts, Weapons, Fencing, Master Diver...as well I am extremely well trained and train others in this field.

I was for a time an Assistant Professor and I hold Multiple Degrees.

I also help run several now large family owned Companies and I do charity work specific to businesses working with students.

In one of these programs we run I was APPALLED at the low level of intelligence that the teachers attending from public schools had. As well I noticed the teachers treating boy's in a overly non-masculine way.

AboveAlpha

 

Girls especially will compete with the latest fashions, with kids who can't afford the brand name clothes being bullied or outcast.

I went to a state high school. This was the late 1960s to early 1970s. Boys had to wear collar and tie, jacket, trousers and polished black shoes. Girls, tunic to the approved length, shirt and tie, jacket, long socks and polished shoes. Summer time we were allowed to wear shorts and no tie. Gym shoes were banned all year for general wear.

In my senior years we got a new principal. A young guy with some great ideas. He was seeing a lot of dissension about the school uniform, so he called a meeting with parents, teachers and student council. The student council (I was a member of) which is made up of senior students was asked to design a new school uniform . Other students were also consulted.

Fast forward 20 years when our girls went to the same school, they were wearing the same uniform,, as students do today.

 

I have found that when certain kids in public schools exhibit a high level of intelligence this is ignored by teachers and such kids waste away learning at a slow pace as they are lumped into the rest of the group.

I was like this and when I was in my Jr. Year of High School back then IQ tests were mandatory but SATS were optional.

I was called into the Guidance Office one day a few weeks after taking the IQ test and they sat me down and told me how I had scored which was ridiculously high. Now I don't put much faith into IQ tests as they are flawed and there are many different kinds of intelligence such as Social, Theoretical, Intuitive, Creative along with analytical..

I don't tell people what I scored because when I do they don't believe me anyways but even though I scored so high as I was taking the test I KNEW that they were looking for a specific answer on some questions but of the choices given there were others that were closer than the one I KNEW they were looking for.

This is the problem with trying to test intelligence as those who develop the tests think they know everything! LOL!

AboveAlpha

 

My kids attend pubic school and have AWESOME teachers.

But I live in a college town. I used to live in New Orleans. The public school teachers there are mostly what is left after the good ones give up.

That being said my daughter went to private pre-K there and her teachers were almost supernatural.

But my daughter kicks A.