The Reality of School Age America for Boys

For anyone who is the parent of a school age boy, a very disturbing fact came out of a study that was published last month. Nearly one out of five boys in the US had emotional or behavioral problems that concerned their parents enough that they sought the help of a doctor or health care professional. Only one out of ten parents of girls did so. It has also been noted that the percentage of boys attending college is decreasing.

Do we have a bunch of less than bright, emotionally challenged boys in this country? Take a look at the playgrounds and other places boys gather. I do, and I can tell you I don't think that's true. I don't think boys have changed that much from when I was a child, but schools and society's expectations of boys have. It is my opinion that by equalizing the opportunities afforded to both boys and girls and making classroom situations more "girl-friendly", we are doing a disservice to boys, and ultimately both genders.

While I applaud the fairness provided by gender blindness, I have come to recognize that girls and boys are different. It is not entirely societal; scientists have found that their brains work differently. That only makes sense, because the biological roles of men and women are different; a fact the modern society and technology are making increasingly irrelevant. But that does not mean that the fundamental biology of men and women is identical.

Boys in school are not allowed to be active, which it is in their basic nature to do. Recess is not a daily given and in many areas, recess has become a privilege that is taken away for "bad" behavior. I, for one, fail to see how it makes sense that a child who is acting up because they are energetic and need to move is helped by having his one outlet for physical activity taken away. No wonder we have so many "hyperactive, ADHD" diagnosed boys. I'd be hyper and fidgety too. Even day long meetings of adults include scheduled time several times a day to get up and move around. Why should we expect more from our boys than we expect for ourselves?

I think, that while we need to be sure we provide equal opportunity and encouragement to both boys and girls, we also need to appreciate and respect the different learning styles that best suit the unique characteristics of both boys and girls. Taking the time to separate them for a point of the day to try teaching methods that would be most effective for both boys and girls could help. Switching between active learning segments, which work better for boys, with more passive segments for girls may as well. Letting teachers gear the learning style toward the temperament of their classroom instead of stressing test prep may work as well.

There are a lot of possible solutions out there. Since it is becoming clear that the system is failing 50% of the student population, we need to seek them out and try them. As much as anything else, it is not just a matter of what's right, it's truly a matter of national security and well-being. These children are the future of America, they deserve to be as well prepared to take over the mantle of leadership as we can make them.