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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: boys.

Equity & Diversity Opinion Maytag Survey on Males and Females
Who has the brighter prospects after being laid off from the Maytag plants? Fascinating stuff here.
Richard Whitmire, March 17, 2011
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1 min read
Education Opinion More on 'End of Men" and "Manning Up"
Slate's Double X Gabfest, which includes Hanna Rosin, discusses the state of manhood, including Kay Hymowitz's book, Manning Up. Interesting discussion, except Rosin keeps insisting that women have been doing better than men in school for 100 years. Perhaps when it comes to GPA, but the relevant measure is college graduation rate, and those gaps are relatively new. Whatever is happening to men started only about 25 years ago.
Richard Whitmire, March 17, 2011
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1 min read
Teacher Preparation Opinion Boy Culture Out of Sync with School Culture
But don't blame teachers, argue these teacher college professors. Hmmm. Aren't they supposed to be instructing new teachers on how to re-engage boys?
Richard Whitmire, March 16, 2011
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1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion More on the Abandoned Civil Rights Investigation
Inside Higher Education writes about the decision by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to abandon its probe into college admissions discrimination against women.
Richard Whitmire, March 16, 2011
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1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion News Flash: 'Seminal Moment' in Boy Troubles Debate Evaporates
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has abandoned its effort to research gender discrimination in college admissions that favors boys. In a 4-3 vote on March 11, the commission gave up on its probe, with the majority of the commissioners saying the data they received from the colleges and universities they selected were too jumbled to compare.
Richard Whitmire, March 15, 2011
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1 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion Boys and Recess
I've never bought into the conspiracy theory that boys are suffering because educators are cutting back on their freedom to run wild during recess. The successful charter schools I've visited made better use of that time, as written about here.
Richard Whitmire, March 15, 2011
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1 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion Help Me Understand This
The problem in Florida is more boys than girls want to play sports, which exposes high school to gender inequity infractions. Immediate action is needed, say high school educators, to attract more young girls into sports.
Richard Whitmire, March 15, 2011
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1 min read
Education Opinion Get Your Bacon and Sawdust Scented Candles Here!
Couldn't resist this one.">Tried, but failed, to resist posting this.
Richard Whitmire, March 15, 2011
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1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion The Higher Education Conundrum
Great article in Inside Higher Education about women dominating undergraduate student populations (in most of the world) but men dominating university leadership posts -- and top leadership positions in business and government.
Richard Whitmire, March 15, 2011
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1 min read
Education Opinion Why We Can't Expect Boy-Friendly Actions from Politicians
The numbers don't lie: Women were responsible for electing Obama and the Republicans aren't going to give up hope on the female vote. So we can expect to see more of this.
Richard Whitmire, March 12, 2011
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Education Opinion A Huge Player in Pay Gender Gaps
I can't prove it through research, but as a parent I pick this factor -- avoiding tough and uncomfortable negotiations -- as a huge player. Women need to get a lot better at this, and the "cure" starts with parenting.
Richard Whitmire, March 11, 2011
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1 min read
School Choice & Charters Opinion The New, New Thing in Single-Sex
Separating boys and girls at lunch.
Richard Whitmire, March 10, 2011
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Education Opinion Students Setting Goals
I think there may be a reason why the examples of students setting/achieving (non-sports) goals in this WSJ piece are all girls.
Richard Whitmire, March 9, 2011
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School Choice & Charters Opinion The Single-Sex Juggernaut
Developments from Seattle and West Virginia.
Richard Whitmire, March 9, 2011
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1 min read
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