Head of School's Blogs

Worrying About Boys

by Bill Gerritz 13 February, 2008

Half of my students at ISB are boys. I am the scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 701. I have three sons. I am an ex-boy. I know something about boys. I am worried.

The press is full of articles about worsening boy underachievement I recently attended a presentation by Dr. Michael Thompson on this issue. Dr. Thompson has written several books about raising boys and will be presenting at ISB next school year. http://www.michaelthompson-phd.com/

Dr. Thompson has written, "Forty years ago, 58% of college graduates were male  ...... That statistic has basically flip flopped in forty years."  Many selective colleges now have quotas for girls to prevent even greater disparities. In the US, the National Assessment of Education Progress, the "Mercedes Benz" of achievement testing, reports that girls outperform boys in 4th, 8th, and 1th grades in language ability.  The problem is not limited to the US. Reporting from Paris, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found low academic performance problems for boys in 19 of 27 countries. In 21 of 27 nations, more women than men are graduating from university.

How are boys doing at ISB?  I looked at International School Assessment results for 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th graders in math, reading and two types of writing. Across the grades boys consistently out performed girls in math. The reverse was true in reading and writing. Of last year's graduates with the highest grade point averages, 6 of 20 were  boys. Essentially all of our graduates go on to university. Perhaps the problem is not so signicant at ISB.

Half of this story is positive. The academic gains and increased opportunities for girls that have developed over the past thirty years can only be described as wonderful. However, too many boys are undermotivated and underachieving in school. Why is this? Dr. Thompson proposes ten reasons without claiming they are the right ones:

1)  Girls’ brains are better adapted to the modern school.

2)  Girls have been given a more consistent, encouraging message.

3)   Boys suffer from the tyranny of low expectations.

4)  Schools are hostile environments for boys.

5)  Teachers don’t teach boys things that appeal to their interests.

6)  Boys have a different strategy/culture for doing school.

7)   Boys don’t have the male role models and support they need.

8)  There are more distractions in the lives of boys (screens!)

9)  The lives of men and women have changed; boys are in despair.

10)  The patriarchial attitudes of boys persist and handicap them.

Unfortunately, while I write this blog to raise the issue in our community, I am but without good solutions at hand.  I expect that as more educators and parents around the globe worry about boys, solutions will emerge.  I certainly look forward to Dr. Thompson's visit next school when faculty and parents can learn more.

Are you worried about our boys?

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Comment on this post

Comment 5: Harvey

Look at the rewards students get for achieving (as well as what topics they get rewarded for achieving at). Are they gender equal?

Comment 4: Carol Kleps

I am using the sample group of my neices (nieces) and nephews on my side of the family as evidence for my comments. These six young adults, 3 males and 3 females, ranging in age from 26 to 32 are all adjusting to life without addictions, and they all have fairly high self-esteem. The females are goal oriented, in acadmic based professions while the males are searching for meaningful life experience and vocations. The males did not buy into joining the rat race that school seems to advocate, while the girls achieved in the school setting and are continuing to value school norms. This simple look at one set of people seems to validate the Michael Thompson assertions that schools aren't tailored for boys as much as they are for girls.

Comment 3: Helen Poff

Dear Dr Gerritz Thank you for sharing and expressing your concern with "our boys of today". Given the nature of our current global climate regarding ongoing war against terrorism, enviromental concerns, radical technological and scientific developments, double income family breadwinners etc. I would ponder over all the effects of living in an almost virtual reality world and the instant gratification "fast world", we now live in.Owing to all the "stresses" of these combined forces and the radical changes in the nuclear family units, gender role swapping etc......it is no wonder that our children and "boys" may be somewhat "confused" as to where they fit into all of this and what direction to take into this almost here future.The old references and role playing are no longer as strong/solid as they were in the early century. I believe what we are seeing here, is a collective consciousness of a confusion for the young male gender in todays world and an adaptation thereof.These children seem to be a lot more technologically advanced, and have a lot more creative qualities.I would say that yes their primal drive as a male gender, as the hunter, the provider, may have somewhat been unbalanced in todays world and so they now seek to find a new order, i.e a new role, a new direction, a new equality. I would say that "Education" as a whole needs to be revaluated in the 1st worlds and as well as in the 3rd worlds. We need to understand "our boys" and where and how they see themselves and thus adapt our "education models" to also accomodate the "new male". One could also argue that the feminine has always had the aptitude and emotional maturation, however not the opportunity until now , to fully realise this. I would say that there is a new re-balancing of genders, role playing and opportunities in our new world and we as educators and parents need to recognise this and create the new enviroment to nurture and sustain our children in the new world that is upon us, as we are all moving at lightning speed with technology etc , we are in the "virtual age". It is in the nature, that everything evolves and so all matter, is always in a state of motion, change and it seeks out the balance. In a nutshell, nothing to worry about ,however to be aware of and make the changes needed to accomodate the evolutionary changes.

Comment 2: Lester

Your concern is well founded and well articulted. As an 81 year old grandfather, my grandson (and granddaughter) just finished making a go cart a la the guide from "The Dangerous Book for Boys." We would like to continue this conversation. We live on Soukumvit in Bangkok.

Comment 1: Wilma

Boys don't nessesarily have all the stress, since girls are growing up they to are going through some changes. We shouldn't take sides; each person has their own responsibilities.

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