Boys and Schools BlogBoys and Schools BlogTrends and issues related to the health, education, and general welfare of boys. Official blog of the Boys and Schools program. Articles
Finding Hope
2007-06-13 06:00:00 Congratulations to the soon-to-be graduates of North Philadelphia's Thomas FitzSimons High School, Pennsylvania's only public all-boys school. Though I've included some highlights below, the entire article about the effort to create a successful all-boys school in a troubled urban area is certainly worth reading. Two things worth noting (and which are included in the quoted portion) are the generally positive response from students who did not necessarily expect to appreciate or respond to a single-sex environment, as well as the hope that this school will provide opportunities to boys from troubled backgrounds and dangerous neighborhood. Under the conditions described, it is a bit much to expect instant success, and the report from the school’s principal and supporters makes me optimistic that such schools may begin to provide hope to disadvantaged boys. I strongly urge you to support such efforts, wherever you find them. "I just wish it wasn't my last ... More About: Hope
Efficient Use of Space
2007-06-12 06:00:00 I just chased my sons out of the laundry room for the thousandth time this morning. Lest you think that there's something in there that draws them, I should explain that there are no train sets, towers of candy, or talking animals back there. It's just a small, dark, hot room, with a washer and dryer and embarrassing amounts of dirty clothing. This is not toy-land, but it does seem to hold some kind of intangible appeal to two curious little boys. Then again, I begin to think that it’s their nature to explore. A few weeks ago, my husband was kind enough to take the boys to playgroup for me one morning. While he was chatting with one of the other parents, he noticed that our one-year-old had disappeared and was nowhere to be found. After some frantic searching, Mags was discovered playing happily in an empty room on another floor, having managed to sneak out of the playroom and stealthily climb two flights of stairs without anyone noticing. ... More About: Space , Pace , Efficient
Follow Nature, Not the Trends
2007-06-08 06:00:00 I have begun to believe that insecurity is the natural state of mommy-hood. My oldest son isn't interested in potty-training. The youngest one wants to call every letter of the alphabet "s." I never taught either of them how to do baby sign-language. They don't really want to listen to Mozart. I didn't really co-sleep much. I can't afford a Montessori pre-school. I've clearly scarred them for life and gotten them off to an insurmountable disadvantage in life. All the other moms probably smile quietly to themselves at my utter ineptitude. Ok, so that’s a little hysterical, and I certainly don’t feel that way all of the time. (Only on days that end with “y.”) But I do think that modern parenting is beset by a constant feeling that we have to measure up to the examples set by the enormous amount of parenting advice out there. And when you think about it, to buy into much of this advice is to operate on the assumption that... More About: Nature , Trends , Ends , Trend , Natur
Considering the Alternatives
2007-06-07 06:00:00 This is not going to be news to anyone who visits this site, but I thought I'd link to this article about the boy crisis, especially for its additional indications of boys' troubles and for the suggestion at the end about school choice as a way for parents to address the problem. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, shows an overwhelming amount of data that supports Kafer’s theory. Take a look: * A 2005 NAEP study revealed that a third of 12th grade boys cannot read a newspaper and understand what they are reading. * The NAEP “Long-Term Trend Test” (started in 1971 and has remained unchanged to better track academic trends over time) showed that at age 17 boys’ reading achievement was fourteen points lower than girls’ and in fact is lower than it was in 1971. * The same test also shows that scores for the 12th grade reveal that in math, girls have improved while boys have slipped. In reading, girls have improv... More About: Alternatives , The A , Cons , Alter , Native
Too Brainy
2007-06-06 06:00:00 If you have a son, you have probably urged him at some point to, "use [his] words," rather than just getting upset about something. And there's also a fair chance that, having prompted him in this way, you still had to walk him through the words to help him describe what he was feeling. It may seem especially strange if, like me, you have a toddler boy who could spend all day telling you about trains, helicopters, the bird outside the window, and so on, but who, when in the grip of emotion, has a difficult time explaining what is bothering him. Brain researchers, however, would tell you that this is to be expected—that differences between the male and female brains (especially in the language centers and communication between the left and right sides of the brain) contribute greatly to these traits. As this article explains, sex differences in the brain can greatly affect how we relate to one another: According to Simon Baron-Cohen, a professor of developme...
Boy Birth Dearth
2007-06-05 06:00:00 I've seen this story--about the drop in the male birth rate and the possibility that chemicals or pollutants may be partly responsible--around the internet for the last few weeks, and was of two minds about whether (and how) to address it. On the one hand, I don’t want to promote a scare story when there seems to be so much that we don’t know about it. On the other hand, it is a major story with serious implications. In the end, I decided it was probably best to just present the issue and let everyone decide for themselves what to make of it: 'Gender-bending' chemicals could be to blame for a worrying drop in the proportion of boys born in the U.S. over the past 30 years, scientists said yesterday. A massive study found that, in America as a whole, the number of boys born for every 100 girls has dropped steadily from 105.5 to 104.5 over the three decades. The decline, while apparently small, shows no sign of levelling out and could have major demographic and ... More About: Birth
On Eggshells
2007-06-04 06:00:00 Not that this has anything to do with the plight of boys in the larger scheme of things, but today at the grocery store, Mags, my intrepid one-year-old, got into the carton of eggs that I had carefully placed at the far side of the cart. I was grabbing something from a shelf and turned around to see the open carton perched precariously on his lap, chubby fingers reaching for an egg, and the previous victim splattered on the floor. After I alerted the manager about the mess and promised Mags that he was well on the way to being grounded until his second birthday, a woman gave me a friendly smile in my moment of frustration and mentioned that if throwing eggs was the worst thing he ever does, then I could count myself lucky. And she’s right, of course, which is something we both silently acknowledged. Moreover, I would bet all the money in my wallet (though before anyone gets too excited, I should mention that it’s only $6.37 right now) that she was a mother as well....
Making Things Happen
2007-06-01 06:00:00 Reflecting a bit on our mission to improve the lives of boys and our advice to parents to work for change in their communities, it occurred to me that I might have been a bit casual in explaining how they could do so and what Boys and Schools can do to help. Obviously, every situation varies a bit, but here are a few places to start: --Use our resources, like our fact sheets or tips, when approaching the program you want to change and influence. Whether you’re trying to convince a community group to become more involved in mentoring, or talking to a school about raising awareness of developmental differences and learning styles. Having the facts at your fingers will make it easier for you to persuade others that this is an issue worth tackling. --If you want to help initiate a certain kind of program for boys, such as a “Books for Boys” workshop at a local library, do your research ahead of time. Make sure that you find the right person to approach (someone w... More About: Things , Thing , Maki , Makin
Why the Generalities Matter
2007-05-31 06:00:00 A lot of the things I talk about in the space are in terms of generalities--as in boys generally developing differently in such-and-such a way, boys generally having certain interests (or aversions), and so on. This is because, well, this organization is focused on boys as a whole, so one is forced to deal with generalities and majority effects. Otherwise, we’d be completely bogged down by every possible “if” and “but,” and everything I write would be a mish-mash of dense, legalistic exceptions and disclaimers. But today, I want to take a moment and address the question of why the Boys and Schools mission is still important, even if the broad trends we are concerned with don’t necessarily fit your personal experience. Maybe your son has never had a lick of trouble (behavioral or otherwise) in school, reads voraciously, gets excellent grades, is in great health, etc., etc., etc. In such a case, you might be wondering what relevance Boys and Schools has to you ... More About: Matter , Gene , The G
Books For Boys (Missouri Edition)
2007-05-30 06:00:00 I know it appears to be something of an obsession with me, but I really do like to bring attention to existing programs that encourage boys to read. In my opinion, one of the keys to improving boys' performance on reading and writing evaluations is increasing their exposure to books and getting them reading recreationally. After all, one of the best ways to improve both reading and writing skills is through exposure to good writing. And since boys tend to turn to recreational reading in far fewer numbers than girls, programs that focus on books for boys may be a good place for a frustrated parent (or teacher) to start. The program that caught my eye today comes from the Windsor branch of Missouri ’s Jefferson County Library System. Not the least of the things that recommended it to me was the mention of the non-fiction books that the librarians had picked out—I’ve noticed the Pirateology and Dragonology books at local book stores and was immediatel... More About: Books , Boys , Edition
Stepping Out of the Mommy Race
2007-05-29 06:00:00 This is for all those mothers out there who sometimes wonder how they have ended up in some kind of race over the prowess of someone who talks to inanimate objects and is incapable of eating without getting food on every nearby surface (including his hair). Were moms always competitive? Did Atilla’s mother quietly fret over which Hun infants were walking earlier than hers? Despite all of the books and advice that tell us not to worry—that these developmental milestones tend to even out over time—I admit that I still get a little tense during conversations about whose child is already potty-trained, doing baby sign-language, and reading Tolstoy. In the original Russian, of course. And as a mom of boys, my particular vulnerability is language. It doesn’t help that the language centers of the brain develop much more rapidly in girls (or more slowly in boys, depending on how you look at it). It’s nature. It’s the way things work. There’s a... More About: Race , Mommy , Step , Ping
Relief From the Toddler Book Blues
2007-05-25 06:00:00 As a mother of two toddlers, I understand the great toddler reading conundrum. That is, I know how it feels to realize that you should be reading to your children frequently, but at the same time feel that if you have to read one more story about fuzzy ducklings, happy puppies, or twee little bears, you’re going to go insane. So let me tell you about how my husband handled his boredom with endless tales of cooperative bunnies getting ready for bed. We took the kids on a special trip to the bookstore (which has a great children’s section, so that my sons actually consider it a treat to go there). And, while browsing the Young Readers section, my husband found two picture books that he thought he might actually enjoy reading to the boys—one biography George Patton and one of Douglas MacArthur. Granted, they’re a little high (in terms of reading level) for the boys, but they are plenty of pictures, and the writing isn’t too far over the children’s heads. I... More About: Blues , Book , Relief , Toddler
The Body-Image Game
2007-05-24 06:00:00 I confess. I play video games. Not as much as the average teenage boy (or even as much as my husband), but I have a little experience here. I do not currently have any elves or wizards or such in my life, but I will admit that I know what it’s like to get obsessed with progressing your karate babe or superhero or stay up until an ungodly hour trying to get your Sim promoted in his job. I understand the appeal. Which is not to say that I’m unaware of the areas for parental concern when it comes to video game use. In fact, I would say that knowing a little more about how easily one can get drawn-in or over-identify with the online gaming world makes me more wary about the possible problems with too much gaming. But I certainly don’t start from the premise that any gaming is too much. Still, while many people immediately identify questions about violence or unhealthy habits when it comes to the downside of video games, I have always wondered ab... More About: Body , Game , Image , The Body
Pumped Up
2007-05-23 06:00:00 Generally speaking, when we talk about problems related to body image issues, we tend to focus on girls and eating disorders. And with good reason, since such disorders are a serious health problem and not at all uncommon. Moreover, people "get it" when it comes to girls' body image issues and unhealthy messages from the culture at large—few people have any difficulty seeing where the many pressures on girls to be thin, voluptuous, etc., come from. Unfortunately, the suggestion that boys can suffer from similar problems, disorders, and unhealthy behavior meets with a certain amount of surprise. But the same kinds of images and influences are out there affecting the health and well-being of young men. Not only are there boys who suffer from anorexia and related eating disorders (not in numbers as great as girls, though the number of anorexic boys appears to be on the rise), but boys are also extremely vulnerable to the dangers of steroid use. As this ar... More About: Pump
More Books for Boys (UK Edition)
2007-05-22 06:00:00 In the ongoing effort to encourage boys to read, Alan Johnson, British education secretary, has issued a list of more than 160 books as suggestions for a "boys' bookshelf" in the country's school libraries. The list, evidently the result of a great deal of research into boys’ reading preferences, unsurprisingly skews heavily towards adventure stories and non-fiction “curious facts” books. A lot of these titles are new to me, though I look forward to checking them out. However, there are a few classics in the bunch, including Frankenstein, Kidnapped, and Treasure Island, as well as a few fun and offbeat choices, like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I will admit that, as a mom, I’m a little dubious about the benefits of offering choices like The Guinness Book of World Records, but I also concede that the point is to get boys interested in reading for pleasure, and thus, not every choice has to be a deep and enriching experience. (After all, it’s not as ... More About: Books , E Book , Boys , Edition
Upcoming Opportunity in DC
2007-05-18 06:00:00 Yesterday, my toddler decided to give himself a beard. Made out of diaper rash creme. Honestly, his entire jaw area (along with his legs, clothes, and a substantial portion of the bedroom carpet) was covered in thick, sticky, white diaper rash creme. After a call to the Poison Control hotline (moms of boys take note--it's 1-800-222-1222) and a substantial bath and cleaning effort, I came to the realization that because diaper cremes are waterproof (for obvious reasons), I was going to have to find some way to camouflage the new snowy spots on our carpet. So, on days like that one, I admit that I am less inclined to ponder boys' crises than wonder where they get the idea to do things like this. I don't think I caused as much exploratory destruction in my entire childhood as my boys get through in a week. But, deep down, I can't bring myself to be that upset with them (well, except maybe about the carpet). There's such an energy; such an air of... More About: Opportunity , Unity , Upcoming , Ming , Unit
Confronting the Anti-Education Influences
2007-05-16 06:00:00 Yesterday in this space, I wrote about a successful all-girls school that focused especially on helping promising students from minority and low-income communities. At the time, I mentioned that I hoped that similar schools would be created for low-income and minority boys, who desperately need the same level of encouragement to achieve and a learning environment designed to help them do so. Now, a recent report from Cleveland about the academic troubles faced by African-American boys underlines the need for programs that respond especially to the needs of these boys. It’s true that, while the achievement gap between boys and girls cuts across ethnicity and income level, African-American boys, in particular, face some of the most substantial deficits. Social scientists struggle to explain why, and PolicyBridge, a black think-tank from the Cleveland area has identified what it believes to be a significant part of the issue—an anti-education culture. The... More About: Education , Front , Anti , Influence , Ducati
Learning From Examples
2007-05-15 06:00:00 As an organization that focuses on boys' performance in school and academic achievement, it may seem strange that we would use this space to draw attention to the success of an all-girls school. But there is a method to my madness. One of the most common objections to single-sex education (be it through classes or entire schools) is that the net effect of such programs will be negative for girls—either by providing girls with a substandard education, enforcing gender stereotypes among the participating students, or depriving girls of opportunity or competition. As this article (a profile of a very successful all-girls school in Dallas) makes clear, single-sex education can be incredibly beneficial for students, bringing out talents and challenges that may not be found in the co-ed environment, and exposing students to new activities and interests. (As the article notes, this inner-city all-girls school boasts both a lacrosse team and a handbell choir.) ... More About: Examples , Learning , Example , Exam , Learn
Rough-and-Tumble-Sensitive Classrooms
2007-05-14 06:00:00 As someone who spends an inordinate amount of time intervening in wrestling matches between a headstrong toddler with delusions of grandeur and his (mostly) patient older brother, I always get an inward smile when I see researchers announce the “finding” that boys generally enjoy rough and tumble play. Nor does it much surprise me to learn that they prefer large spaces and tend to make use of whatever space is available to them. In my experience, once your son has achieved independent motion, being a mom to boys is composed largely of retrieving them from wherever they’ve wandered off to in search of more play opportunities. Even when crawling, my boys felt the need to create a game for every corner of every room they could reach—almost like they were extending their territory. My only advice to other moms when it comes to this tendency is to try to keep the legos and little cars confined to one area, because it’s no fun at all when you accidentally step on o... More About: Class , Room , Sens , Sensitive
Mom's Day Musings
2007-05-11 06:00:00 Since this coming Sunday is Mother's Day, I hope you will forgive my sentimental maunderings in this space today. It has been a little over three years since Andy was born, and about a year and half since we had Mags. And even though they both just completely took apart Andy’s bed so that they could walk on the frame and pretend it’s a bridge, and even though this morning, Andy kept trying to get Mags to eat tree bark, I could not be happier to be their mother. (Though it was a little trying yesterday, when they got into the lavender lotion, and they both smelled like a candle shop all day, not to mention Mags trying to drink my espresso when he thought I wasn’t looking.) There are times when, exhausted from a long day, I sit on the couch and watch them race in circles around the coffee table, roaring, chasing each other, or doing one their little-kid things, and I think, “If we could only learn how to harness the energy of toddler boys, we would never again have ... More About: Musings , Sing , S Day , Sings
In His Own Words
2007-05-10 06:00:00 I noticed this commentary the other day, and thought I'd draw attention to it, not least of all because it was written by a young man who is now a freshman in college. It seems worthwhile to consider what boys themselves perceive as the problems with modern education: Increasingly, teachers seem to be falling into the belief that all children are born innately good and, therefore, all children are unique in equally special ways. As a result of this uniqueness, teachers should feel compelled to reward each child for the uniqueness he or she holds with a good mark. It’s this exact “everyone’s a winner” philosophy that is having a detrimental effect on both boys and girls in the public classroom. The solution to this problem is not an easy task. If teachers want to turn around the situation for boys in the classroom, they need to create more excitement through competition in the classroom. Teachers cannot be afraid to give their students a bad grade. However, the benefits of t... More About: Words
Superhero Values
2007-05-07 06:00:00 In my house, the males currently outnumber females by a ratio of 3 to 1. So it should come as no surprise when I say that superheroes are very, very big around here. Spiderman graces my older son's training pants. (I’m not sure exactly what the connection between spiders and potty-training might be, though I could wish that my son’s spidey-senses regarding that activity were a little more acute.) And from time to time, I’m called upon to tuck dishtowels into the backs of their shirts so that they two boys can “fly” around the living room and battle evil. (“Evil” in this case being furniture, shoes, and other inanimate objects.) At least I’m not the one called on to actually help them fly—that’s purely a Dad job in my house. Then, this weekend, I went to see Spiderman 3, and it got me thinking a little more about superheroes and little boys. I know that some parents can be concerned about the violent themes in superhero movies, and it m... More About: Superhero , Hero , Values , Value
Risks and Antidepressants
2007-05-04 06:00:00 The FDA has just announced that it is seeking an update to the warning labels required on antidepressants, advising consumers that the drug may increase the risk of suicide slightly for those under the age 25. It’s a difficult situation, as the increase in suicidal thoughts and behavior is considered strong enough to require warning, but is still a very small risk in terms of overall population: It's a "quite small" risk, says Thomas Laughren, MD, director of the FDA's Division of Psychiatry Products. "If you look at 1,000 patients treated, for those under 18 we expect to see 14 cases with increased suicidal thinking and behavior linked to taking these drugs," Laughren said in a news conference. "In young adults aged 18 to 24, you'd see five additional cases of suicidality out of 1,000 people." There is no evidence that the drugs raise suicide risk in people over age 25, the FDA says. Instead, Laughren says antidepressants appear to decrease suicidality in older adult... More About: Risk , Ants , Anti , Antidepressant , Sant
Musings on a Grey Day
2007-05-03 06:00:00 It has been a grey and overcast day here in Northern Virginia. Not happy spring weather for two little boys who have gotten used to running around outside. Which means, not a happy morning for their exhausted mom either. Crayons and coloring books are entertaining for full nanoseconds before being used more profitably on the walls. (Thank goodness for the Crayola washable series.) The toddler has decided to systematically take apart or crush every toy in his path. And the three-year old has taken up Cartesian philosophy, and is busy questioning every facet of existence, from the need to get dressed in the morning (For what does it mean to be in a state of dress?) to the bourgeois choice of milk and waffles for breakfast. It is days like today that make me realize the utter necessity of leaving the house and exploring the intellectual stimulation available at the local mall. What? If God had not wanted us to take small children to the m... More About: Musings , Grey , Sing , Sings
Expanding our Options
2007-05-02 06:00:00 Just wanted to highlight this advice column by Armin Brott ("Mr. Dad") in which he responds to a reader who is wondering whether enrolling his son in an all-boys school might help with some of the school problems that his son is experiencing. (Full disclosure: Mr. Brott is an advisor to the Men's Health Network.) I especially liked the description of the boy-friendly classroom, and the later comments on the advantages of single-sex education in avoiding gender role stereotypes: Boys and girls learn differently, and teachers can custom-tailor their teaching style to the boys. Here's how the NASSPE described what a boy-friendly classroom might look like: Most boys will perk up and show some interest if you talk about things that are dangerous, or immense, or "yucky." The boy who was bored by biology at the coed school will be interested if you bring in some black garden snakes. The boy who fell asleep in chemistry class will be energized if you give him an assignme... More About: Options , Opti
An Education in Character
2007-05-01 06:00:00 Mentioning character education for schoolchildren has the unfortunate tendency of making people assume that you're a traditionalist conservative with a penchant for talking about virtues and discipline. And while this may well be true, there is no reason why character education should be the domain of the right--or that it should be a political issue at all. No matter what one’s political persuasion, we all have an interest in teaching children the importance of character, virtue, responsibility, and so on. So I found this article--about a school in Missouri that has stressed character development for its students (and, as a result has experienced a drop in disciplinary issues)--to be an interesting study of the potential of character education at school. The four key values that Francis Howell Middle School has chosen to impart to its students are respect, responsibility, honesty, and compassion. True, it may not sound as compelling as, “duty, honor, ... More About: Education , Character , Ducati , Duca , Char
Tragic Questions
2007-04-27 06:00:00 A report from the Sunday Times on the Virginia Tech tragedy has been making the rounds on the internet--largely because of the provocative comments by Camille Paglia and Francis Fukuyama on the connection between gender and the frustration that leads to such acts. I will say at the outset that I’m not very happy about characterizing such sociopathic deviance as a male “thing.” In fact, I worry that putting too much emphasis on gender in such cases is an easy way to shift blame, and could result in unfair biases and generalizations about young men. And when it comes to free-form cultural commentary, Paglia certainly subscribes to a scorched earth approach. But while I may not agree with all of her theories about college, cultural changes, and gender, I did find Paglia’s comments thought-provoking and think they are worth excerpting in full: “Women have difficulty understanding the mix of male sexual aggression with egotism and the ecstasy of self-immolat... More About: Questions , Tragic , Quest
Single-Sexism
2007-04-26 06:00:00 The claim comes up again and again that single-sex education promotes sexism--and as someone who has seen intelligent, confident, socially-conscious young men and women graduate from single-sex institutions, this claim has always baffled and frustrated me. I’ve always felt that single-sex classes have an opportunity to combat gender-based stereotypes by creating opportunities for students to step outside the roles that their peers or the school culture may perpetuate. (Such as getting boys interested in theater and music and girls more self-assured about hard sciences.) So, I particularly enjoyed this column discussing the merits of single-sex classes in combating sexism. From the article: The program appears to be helping young women learn in a way that can insulate themselves from often distracting and domineering young men, and that in itself is worth something. Even if the girls are being placed into an educational environment that rarely exists in the outside... More About: Sing , Single , Sexism
Character Counts for All
2007-04-25 06:00:00 With football season long over, I have to admit that I haven't really been keeping up with sports news lately, which is how I missed the announcement about the new NFL rules on personal conduct. (Serves me right for getting drawn into Scrubs re-runs instead of watching Pardon the Interruption.) In essence, new NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a new conduct policy focusing on increasing both support and education to help keep players out of trouble, combined with stiffer discipline for violations. He then showed he means business by handing down serious penalties to two current players who had violated the policy. So what does this all have to do with boys and achievement? Well, like it or not, professional athletes are often both symbolic figures and role models to young men—not only because of their incredible ability, but because of the success (financial and otherwise) that it brings them. I may wish that it were otherwise, and ce... More About: Character , Count , Char , Hara
Fathers, Sons, and Health
More articles from this author:2007-04-24 06:00:00 A few years ago, someone very close to me was diagnosed with diabetes. He'd had symptoms for quite a long time, but, between his concerns about paying for treatment and the stresses of work, he put off visiting a doctor for months—even when it was clear that something was seriously wrong. If it hadn’t been for his wife’s constant urging, it may have been even longer before he finally got treatment. And he isn’t an unusual case—in fact, the hesitation of many men to seek necessary medical help and preventive care is one of the widespread problems that the Men’s Health Network was founded to address. The severity of the issue is outlined in this article in the Wall Street Journal, which touches on a variety of issues in men’s health—including the difficulties of getting men to the doctor. While young boys get roughly the same level of care as girls (most likely because mothers tend to be responsible for scheduling regular pediatrician visits), once t... More About: Fathers , Father , Hers , Sons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
 |
|
 |
