A lot of media attention has been given to the story of
girls’ troubles in math classes throughout the country. Many studies show that
girls have recently been struggling in math classes. These troubles do not
arise because of an inability to do math; rather, sociological pressures and
lack of teacher attention often causes girls to fall behind in math classes.
But, none of these news stories address the other side of the gender coin. Boys
are also struggling in school for the same reasons. However, these problems
occur in a different subject: English.
For the last thirty years, boys have been scoring worse than
girls in every age group, every year on U.S. Department of Education reading tests.
Boys in the eighth grade are 50% more likely to be held back than girls. Boys
make up two-thirds of high school special education classes. College enrollment
is consistently lower for boys than girls. So, what contributes to this litany
of inequalities?
Some biological differences between boys and girls could be partially
responsible. Boys’ minds and bodies are slower to develop than girls and thus
struggle more with reading and writing. As the reading and writing gets more
difficult, girls manage to keep up while many boys are left behind.
Social expectations of boys are also to blame. Our society
pressures boys to be competitive and active while expecting girls to be quiet
and passive. Girls are hence encouraged to adopt reading as a pastime while
boys are urged to play sports. Boys are also taught to suppress their feelings.
They often do not feel comfortable exploring the emotions expressed in fiction.
Male role models in reading and writing are also greatly lacking. So, someone
is finally doing something about it.
And that someone is Jon Scieszka. You may have heard of him.
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs?
The Stinky Cheese Man? Scieszka is a
popular children’s author and literacy advocate. He launched the web-based
literacy program Guys Read in order to counteract the negative pressures placed
on boys and reading. His website
aims to encourage boys to become “self-motivated, lifelong readers,” urging
teachers and schools to adopt more accessible and interesting reading materials
like graphic novels, and gathering grown men to function as literacy role
models. He has even compiled a series of books (Guys Read) filled with stories written by popular male authors.
I highly recommend his website to any teachers and parents
of boys as well as the male students themselves. It is a great resource for
more information about boys’ reading rates and trends. It also provides lists
of books with the guy stamp of approval. The site offers resources for boys’
interests that simultaneously engage their literacy skills. The website as a
whole promotes boys’ learning both in the classroom and outside of it. While
girls need to know that they are just as smart in math, boys need to know that
they can read as well as anyone else. So, take a page out of Jon Scieszka’s
book…literally. Find a boy who is important to you and hand him a book. You
never know what a difference it will make in his life.
For more information, visit the Guys Read website.
