No Boy Left Behind

NO BOY LEFT BEHIND? More boys are enrolled in kindergarten than girls, but fewer boys will graduate from high school. What happens in the years between to keep boys from being successful in school? Are our boys failing-or are we failing our boys? PICTURING THE PROBLEM In the beginning of life, boys and girls start out on mostly even footing. But not long after that, things begin to change. FOR EVERY 100 FEMALES . born ... 105 males are born who are enrolled in kindergarten ... 107 males are enrolled who repeat kindergarten ... 194 males repeat who are suspended from public schools . 215 males are suspended who are diagnosed with a learning disability .. 276 males are diagnosed who graduate from high school .. 96 males graduate EESEEEEANIRERES who are enrolled in college . 78 males are enrolled who have a master's degree ... 66 males have the same degree * The picture is even worse when looking at only low-income and minority boys and men. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? While the causes of boys' perceived underachievement in schools are no doubt myriad and complex, researchers and educators have pointed to a few key factors that are likely playing a role. ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICIES DEARTH OF MALE TEACHERS Any violence or threats of violence or in many schools, simply talking about violence, earns most students a suspension. Boys are far more likely to be the perpetrators and victims of violence. Boys regularly encounter only female educators, meaning they spend the bulk of their days with people they may find it difficult to relate to. Of high school-age boys.. Public school teachers 76% 24% 40.7% 25.9% engage in fighting regularly carry weapons (whether to school or not) female male NATURAL DIFFERENCES IN MALE AND FEMALE DEVELOPMENT TEACHING TO THE TEST With school certifications and teacher salaries tied to Girls develop faster. student achievement, the focus for many public schools isn't necessarily a broad, well-rounded education - it's making sure their students can past a battery of standardized tests. 6 months earlier 2 years earlier This means there's little room for error. The average girl is The average girl reaches puberty potty trained WHY THERE'S HOPE Once boys reach a certain age, the natural differences between boys and girls begin to evaporate, as males catch up to females developmentally, and in some cases, surpass them. Boys regularly outperform girls in science, technology and math. These two students probably have the same ability to understand math and geometry: TECHNOLOGY MATH SCIENCE 12-year-old girl 8-year-old boy MEAN IQ LEVELS Girls: { 100.6 Age 7 Boys: 99.4 Girls: 100.4 { Age 11 Boys: 99.6 Girls: 99.2 Age 16 100.8 Boys: WHAT SCHOOLS CAN DO TO ENGAGE BOYS Keeping boys engaged in school and learning is vital to keeping them from dropping out - or simply tuning out. Here are ways to hold boys' attention in the classroom: Provide lessons that result in an end product (a booklet, comic strip or a model) Structure lessons as competitive games Require motor activity Allow boys to address open questions or unsolved problems Encourage a combination of competition and teamwork Craft lessons that focus on independent discovery and realization SOURCES http://www.theboysinitiative.org http://www.census.gov http://nces.ed.gov.http://www.cdc.gov· http://www.sheknows.com http://www.theguardian.com http://www.webmd.com http://www.psychologytoday.com http://www.theatlantic.com explainthatstuff.com · www.ted.com www.autism.org.uk - http://edition.cnn.com www.theguardian.com www.webmd.com- www.sheknows.com- www.childmind.org www.japantoday.com www.psychologytoday.com www.theatlantic.com www.cbsnews.com http://abcnews.go.com topmastersineducation.com