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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: boys.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 Fallout from the 'Mancession'
University of Kansas researcher documents the impact of the Great Recession on men who lost their breadwinner identify.
Richard Whitmire, August 23, 2011
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Reading & Literacy Opinion Girls Twice as Likely to Read
British survey from the National Literacy Trust.
Richard Whitmire, August 23, 2011
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Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion Some Colleges Encouraging Gender Major Stereotypes?
In this study, football comes off as the heavy. I'm no defender of college football programs, but this study seems a bit sketchy to me. This line in the Chronicle summarizes it nicely: "This study clearly has it limitations." Oh yeah.
Richard Whitmire, August 22, 2011
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Reading & Literacy Opinion Great Essay on Boys and Reading
Richard Whitmire, August 22, 2011
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School Choice & Charters Opinion Single-Sex Opening Up in Tampa and Houston
It always worries me when the motive stated by parents, as heard in Tampa, is they simply want the sexes separated. But happens when there are no academic gains?
Richard Whitmire, August 22, 2011
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Equity & Diversity Opinion 'Bare Branches' and 'Left-Over Women'
The Economist does a great job sorting through the rapid changes in marriage patterns in Asian countries. Most of the changes are triggered by education trends.
Richard Whitmire, August 22, 2011
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Education Opinion The 'Middle Skills' Quandry
This is what so many males need -- skills that need some post-secondary work, but not necessarily a four-year degree. And yet, too many males aren't getting that message. Sorry about the truncated wsj link. Normally, I wouldn't link this article, but it's an important topic, so even three graphs for those not paying 'dues' to the wsj are still important.
Richard Whitmire, August 21, 2011
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Education Opinion Summer Camp To Interest Girls in Manufacturing
Richard Whitmire, August 19, 2011
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Equity & Diversity Opinion 'Why Boys Fail' Makes Rhee's Top Five List
Appreciate the nod. She knows something about the topic: she wrote the foreword.
Richard Whitmire, August 18, 2011
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School Choice & Charters Opinion The Single-Sex Debate Is Only Beginning
Brain researcher Lise Eliot, author of Pink Brain, Blue Brain, takes on the single-sex science.
Richard Whitmire, August 18, 2011
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Equity & Diversity Opinion PBS Special on Black Boys
Glad to see the attention on black boys; they truly have troubles. But barely more troubles than Hispanic boys. White boys from blue-collar families aren't far behind. I'd love to see a PBS special on what all these boys have in common. I've never thought focusing just on African-American boys was the most effective strategy.
Richard Whitmire, August 18, 2011
1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion ACT: Boys Are More Ready for College than Girls
Then why aren't they going at the same rates? The time when women needed college more than men has passed. Check out the ACT results, especially in states such as Colorado and Illinois, where all students must take the exam (thereby giving a fair, direct comparison).
Richard Whitmire, August 17, 2011
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College & Workforce Readiness Opinion Survey: Women Value Higher Education More Than Men
Richard Whitmire, August 17, 2011
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Equity & Diversity Opinion Webinar Reminder!
Education Week hosting a session on improving academic outcomes for African American boys. Check it out...
Richard Whitmire, August 17, 2011
1 min read