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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: boys.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
Opinion
Are Women Less Competitive than Men?
If so, that could explain much of the pay gender gap. That controversial topic is explored at Time (brave souls there).
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
More on the South Carolina Survey
Interesting story from Greenville confirms my anecdotal observations: single-gender classes benefit girls more than boys. As for academic improvements made in single-gender classrooms, I don't pay much attention to self-reported observations from students. This is a situation where real research is required.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
More on That Graduation Report
I was so busy complaining about the researchers leaving out gender data that I neglected to read the actual recommendations offered up for improving graduation rates. As John Merrow points out, recommendation #5 -- which happens to be where boys have fallen behind -- is key.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Single-Gender Offerings Cut in S.C.
South Carolina is running the nation's biggest experiment in single-gender classes, and a recent survey confirms that those offerings are popular with parents.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Yet Another Major Report Ignoring Gender
Lots of buzz about the high school graduation report from America's Promise Alliance. And yet, once again we see a report that breaks out data by ethnicity but not gender.
Science
Opinion
Too Good to be True?
Originally I passed on this psych experiment out of the University of Colorado that claimed there was an easy way to boost the performance of female college students in courses such as physics and math. (As a reminder, I write about this on a boys blog because if women are going to dominate colleges we need a way to steer more women into economically critical majors).
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Most Popular? Who Knew?
I was cruising through links today and ended up on the Education Next site where I noticed a "most popular" list of linked articles. At the top was the boys debate I had with Susan Bailey, executive director of the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College, who was principal author of the 1992 AAUW report How Schools Shortchange Girls.
Assessment
Opinion
Good Grades = Smart Students?
Not necessarily, as Peg Tyre (author of The Trouble with Boys) writes in the Times. And guess who earns the better grades?
Federal
Opinion
Boys as 'Relational Learners'
Interesting piece in Education Week (password access) about international research regarding what helps boys learn. It's all about forming relationships with teachers.
Education
Opinion
New Blog on the Boy Troubles
The Boys Initiative, an outgrowth of the Men's Health Network, will take a broad look at the problems boys and men are having.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Asking the Right Questions
Afro columnist assesses the social damage from the widespread failure of black males.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Get Your Single-Sex News HERE!
As always, David Chadwell delivers. Ok, it's only about South Carolina, but that's where most of the nation's single-sex experiments are playing out.