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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The expectation for kids to be perfect (all As, ECs curated, super scheduled days) beginning in 9th grade does not match where most boys are developmentally at age 14. Girls are ahead here. So they start off behind and it is hard to catch up. [/quote]

this is a very real factor. teacher of Gifted&Talented...the intelligence is the same, the organizational skills of females are 1.5-2 yrs ahead. Males are not as supported in our educational system. In GT with smaller groupings we can do a lot of creative out of box thinking and cater to both types of minds. Colleagues in private schools report the same. All-male schools often have a lot of success with boys. Most public schools cannot individualize this. I am a female teacher. Most of my colleagues are. Many of us have raised sons and daughters in addition to teaching them; Boys need more support. Giving Boys more support does not mean giving girls less: keep the women in stem and all the important stuff added over the years to help girls; add support specifically for the ways boys learn, and ways to encourage college and make it an obvious  attainable choice. [/quote]

I think boys and young men also need strong, supportive male teachers, mentors and, most importantly, fathers (or at least strong male family members to rely upon and learn from).  Child-care, from daycare works, nannies and preschool teachers, through elementary, middle and high school, are largely staffed by female teachers/care-givers.  If we want boys to have stronger positive, pro-academic role models, we need for men to enter the profession from the ground up.

Sadly, in our society, male teachers are often looked down-upon, or, worse yet for recruiting good male teachers, treated as generally as potential pedophiles (see parts of the thread on the true monster former head of NCRC preschool but also the comments about general concern about male teachers).  But men need to be part of this solution. I remember attending a middle school parent association meeting where discussion focused in part on this issue, and every single parent at the meeting, and all the faculty members (other than one administrator) was female. The meeting was at 8 am.  There were parents who phoned in to listen form their cars, and from their office.  Every single one was female.

To those men and dads who are disconnected, you need to show up. Show up at your kids' school, in the day-to-day of supporting your kids and serving as a role model of what you believe is important for your sons (and daughters) to understand about the importance of education.  Coach the soccer team, or the debate team, or drive carpool or just sit at the dining table and work alongside your kids.  So they can see you, ask you questions casually and regularly.  So that when they think of a male role model they understand and admire, it's you, and they can develop a mature understanding of positive masculinity.  And to the male teachers, I appreciate your work and serving as strong examples for our kids.    [/quote]

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