The education system in the US is putting young boys at a disadvantage?

[Guns fan]

Do you believe that the education system in the US is favoring girls and putting young boys at a disadvantage? What's your opinion on this article and this quote from a female teacher?

http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisingboys/school02.html

""Too often, we disapprove of what's in boys' minds. Prohibited from the physical activity they need, criticized for the content of their minds, and required to do work they cannot do as well as the little girls around them, it is not surprising that some of these boys get off to a bad start, giving up before they have begun.""
-Jane Katch, M.S.T.

[celtish]

Yes, boys are being put at a disadvantage because more emphasis is being put on girls. The answer is to take sexist ideology out of education and to have more men teachers.

[Shivs]

Can see what you are getting at and don't doubt at all that it is true.
School systems should be more accommodating towards boys, they have been towards girls and really, there should be more balance so everyone can have a fair go.
On a personal note, I'm very proud of my sons who are doing extremely well in school(grade 5 and 3) and my eldest who's nearly 10 is reading at an adult level(Tom Clancy novels he is interested in, though I feel that this is a bit too grown-up for him)). Just had to say this
Parents must also be willing to help out with their children and encourage them(particularly sons) in a way that will suit them better and better help them achieve.

[homojo]

i think more hands on learning and active play in early education would benefit both sexes.
as for the quote, there may be some truth to it, but boys have to learn to solve problems through negotiation and not physical dominance. it's ok to fantasize about ridding the world of bad guys but how do we determine who the bad guys are? anyone who disagrees with us?

[The Mrs.]

As a teacher, yes. Most teachers teach to girls and boys get in trouble for being boys. Boys (and a few girls) simply learn differently, they need more kinesthetics and more hands on learning that most teachers don't give them. While girls tend to be auto learners or visual learners boys tend to learn by doing...a kinesthetics learner. Hands on learning is slowly (very slowly) becoming part of classrooms, but we still have a long way to go, especially in upper grades and higher education. People forget in these areas, that people need to move and touch in order to learn, not just sit in an hour+ long lecture and take notes. Then teachers wonder why students fall asleep. Often times it has little to do with the student, but rather just a boring lesson.

[Purple girl]

I believe so.

Boys are naturally more active than girls, so boys get punished more for not being quiet. But even boys who act like girls are penalized, just due to being lumped in with other boys. I was raised as a boy, and I remember math class where a teacher categorically punished the boys for being loud, and I sat quietly like the other girls, but because I was raised as a boy, I was made to do the punishment too.

Then there were other things, like the girls were given the unearned privilege of wearing skirts to school (maybe to satisfy the male pervert faculty members?), but the boys were not allowed to wear shorts.

Or, girls were praised for being "neat," but boys were criticized for not being able to uphold the same standards.

So from personal experiences, I believe what you are saying is true.

PS., the first answer is an example of the sexism inherent in education. Why not make the work as exciting as the video games so they can learn more and make better grades? Why not tailor the educational styles towards the inherent strengths and interests of each gender? The only problem I see with segregated education is that students who are born with the birth defect of transsexualism would be put in the wrong classroom and not do as well as they could in the other environment.

[old_fogey]

Yes. For the longest time girls were thought to be at a disadvantage so alot of attention was being paid to the girls. Now the boys are lagging behind.

[Optimus Prime]

My opinion? take the advantages and disadvantages in subjects, gender-wise, and teach both genders assuming that both are strong at them equally, at the highest level. If feminists rant about how math and science is "sexist" because girls don't score as high as with literature, tie their beaks.

[Elf #3]

The education system in the US is dumbing down EVERYBODY. It is as broken as our health care system. I wish I had a solution, but I do not.

I do see your point about natural boy behavior not being tolerated in the classroom setting, and I agree. But by focusing on that you miss out on the other issues that negatively affect ALL the kids.

- the practice of passing "problem kids" just to keep them moving through - and eventually out of - the system . These kids have not mastered the curriculum and do not deserve to be passed on, but the higher grades each accommodate them and you end up with a graduate who cannot read.
- over-emphasis of standardized testing
- lack of emphasis on critical thinking skills
- classism (don't pretend it does not exist)