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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: boys.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
The Marriageable Mate Dilemma Among Blacks
Milwaukee columnist points out the dilemma: the high rate of fatherless families among blacks is likely to continue as long as black boys languish in school. It's the marriageable mate dilemma. What's the motivation for a black woman to marry a less educated black male?
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Boys' 'Self Esteem' Problems?
I have to take issue with this Daily Beast article. Boys have plenty of self esteem; they just choose to invest that confidence in activities other than school.
Education
Opinion
Utah: The Gender Gap Outlier
My favorite part of this story: "conventional wisdom" holds that the Mormon influence explains the gender gap favoring males, but that's not necessarily the case. Really? No alternative explanation is offered here.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Will Black Males Have the Skills to be Journalists?
That's the question raised here. The answer, given the declining literacy skills found in urban black males, has to be: unlikely.
Special Education
Opinion
ADHD: One in Ten
That's the latest calculation. What does unmentioned is that four times as many boys as girls receive the diagnosis.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Tips On Running Single-Sex Classrooms
Given the unfortunate reality that the federal Department of Education seems disinclined to underwrite research on what works/doesn't work in single-sex education, the best national resource may be David Chadwell's efforts in South Carolina, where he shepherds that state's large-scale experiment in the practice.
Law & Courts
Opinion
Admissions Affirmative Action Won't Help Boys
That's the message from these Canadian single-gender educators, responding to the newspaper series in Toronto about the boy troubles that described a medical college taking steps to alleviate the gender gaps.
Teaching
Opinion
Homework Tutors
The grade gender gaps are driving in part by homework. In short, girls do it, and do it well. Boys ... not so much. The Times describes one solution -- at rates as much as $100 an hour. Okay, this may be more of a Manhattan solution.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Advice on Teaching Boys
From Kelley King. She seems on the right track.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
More on Single Sex from South Carolina
You say it's working? Great. Please share the research so we can assess its rigor.
Education
Opinion
Why Don't They Marry?
Economic reasons play in role in why a growing number of single mothers live with a partner, but don't marry the partner, according to this Times piece about a Census study. To be a marriageable mate, the father has to bring something significant to the earnings table. As a result of the education gap (and structural changes in the economy) fewer men are measuring up.