Equity & Diversity Blog

Why Boys Fail

This blog was written by Richard Whitmire, a former editorial writer at USA Today and past board president of the National Education Writers Association, and a frequent opinion commentator on national education issues. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: boys.

Education Funding Opinion A Reversal of the 'Man-cession'
Women are lagging men in the jobs recovery, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Richard Whitmire, May 6, 2011
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Science Opinion Girls and Science
This is helpful...this is what we need across the country. Again, if most of our college graduates are going to be women, we have a national academic interest in steering more women into the hard sciences (and aggressive business startups).
Richard Whitmire, May 6, 2011
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School Choice & Charters Opinion More Successes for Chicago's Urban Prep
Entire senior class at this all-boys inner city school accepted into colleges, including some of the nation's most selective. Unfortunately, the writer does not get into the issue of how many boys dropped out before the senior year -- or the selection progress determining who attends. The success records of charter school are under fierce attack from the unions, which mandates that these questions get asked.
Richard Whitmire, May 6, 2011
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Education Opinion Check out BAM! (Boys Advocacy and Mentoring)
I recently met Howard Hiton, one of the founders of the Portland (Ore.) based organization. Their book, BAM! and their website offer guidance to both teachers and parents.
Richard Whitmire, May 6, 2011
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School Choice & Charters Opinion The Argument for Coeducation
Made at Arizona State University. Does not address boys' flagging academic achievement, which I see as the primary driver behind the movement.
Richard Whitmire, May 5, 2011
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Education Funding Opinion Another Perspective on the 'Mancession'
And another side to the gender wage gap issue, from WeNews.
Richard Whitmire, May 4, 2011
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College & Workforce Readiness Opinion Winston-Salem State University: 71% Female
Richard Whitmire, May 3, 2011
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College & Workforce Readiness Opinion It's Not Just About Jobs
Commentary in the Chronicle reminds us that the reasons for encouraging more Americans to undertake college work go far beyond workforce needs.
Richard Whitmire, May 3, 2011
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Federal Opinion Schools News from Australia
The Australians are way ahead of the U.S. in confronting the school gender gaps, but no closer to solving the dilemma.
Richard Whitmire, May 1, 2011
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Curriculum Opinion Book Review: 'Best Books for Boys'
Pam Allyn's Best Book for Boys is written like a guy wrote it, only a guy didn't. It's practical, divided into topics and ages, and offers quick descriptions after each title. Just what any parent needs walking into a bookstore or trolling Amazon.
Richard Whitmire, April 29, 2011
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Education Opinion Thoughts on 'Take Your Daughters to Work Day'
A founding mother considers the history of the day, and why boys were added.
Richard Whitmire, April 29, 2011
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Education Opinion 120 Males for Every 100 Females
Great story in the WSJ about China, where the world's most dramatic marriageable mate imbalance experiment is playing out.
Richard Whitmire, April 29, 2011
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College & Workforce Readiness Opinion The AAUW Fires Back
The AAUW is unhappy with my Inside Higher Education commentary lamenting the closure of the investigation into college admissions preferences granted to men. Lisa Maatz from the AAUW offers up their side, denying that discrimination exists.
Richard Whitmire, April 28, 2011
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Education Opinion The $10,000 B.A.
If this Texas proposal becomes a reality it will be interesting to see whether this will make college more appealing to men, who currently may view college strictly in transactional terms.
Richard Whitmire, April 28, 2011
1 min read