Jan 04 2009
Boys are Falling Behind
I read a provocative article in Newsweek entitled “The Trouble with Boys.” In it the authors cite startling statistics indicating our nation’s boys are falling behind academically. Here are a few statistics referenced.
• Boys ages 5-12 are 60% more likely than girls to have repeated at least one
grade.
• 8th grade girls score 21 points higher than boys on standardized writing tests.
• The number of male undergrads today is 44%; 30 years ago it was 58%.
Although the authors point to several factors for these trends, one indication is that boys are “wired differently” than girls. To that I say, “Duh.” One only has to spend time in a classroom or have boys of one’s own to recognize this. Boys are more active and have a harder time sitting still in class than their female counterparts. And, if their brains conceptualize in different ways, it stands to reason diverse teaching methods need to be employed.
The article further explores the concept of “all boy classrooms” where male students can work on projects and not have to sit for long lengths of time. I submit that if it’s good for boys, it’s also good for girls. I don’t believe students should have to sit and be quiet for long periods of time, no matter the age or sex. One principal, Kelly King, discusses her innovative method of replacing lectures with “fast moving lessons.” That’s great, but it’s not innovative. It’s simply good teaching. Teachers who strictly lecture day after day are losing all manner of students to boredom.
An important concept with which all teachers should be familiar is Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. Basically it’s the notion that all students are intelligent in at least one of eight areas. Schools generally emphasize only two areas: verbal and mathematical. Teachers who understand the theory can then plan lessons and projects involving as many of the intelligences as possible throughout the year. This alone would be a great improvement in many secondary classrooms. Check out the website exploring Gardner’s theory and its use with technology as well as another website with a chart to help teachers learn to implement the various intelligences into their classrooms.
• Multiple Intelligence Links
• Multiple Intelligence Teaching Chart
Yes, I do believe boys are falling behind, but I believe good teaching reaching all students is the best solution. Boys generally are more kinetic than girls, but students will benefit from teachers who teach to all three learning modalities: auditory, visual and tactile-kinesthetic. I’ll end with a curious thought. I have to ask myself this question. Does technology—as beneficial as it can be—have anything to do with boys’ lackluster performance in school? For the last two decades many boys go home to play loud, action-packed, visually mesmerizing, and often brutal video games. I’m not sure anything at school can compete. Just asking.
