A growing achievement gap between boys and girls in K-12 education is a significant concern, with boys now underperforming girls in every academic area, according to the latest edition of Leonard Sax's book "Boys Adrift." Sax, a physician, psychologist, and educational consultant, posits that the design of many American schools inadvertently discourages boys, leading to a decline in their academic engagement and success.
Sax's research, detailed in his book, indicates that girls now outnumber boys by more than 2-to-1 among high school valedictorians, and young women are more likely to attend college. This trend represents a reversal from decades past when boys were more numerous among high achievers. He attributes this shift, in part, to an educational environment that has become less accommodating to typical boyish behaviors and learning preferences.
"Schools have become unfriendly to boys," Sax stated, noting that activities once considered normal, such as rough play or expressing interest in toy weapons, can now lead to disciplinary action. He observes that this early negative association with school can create a lasting aversion to learning in boys, making it difficult for them to change their attitudes later.
Sax proposes that educational strategies should be tailored to acknowledge gender-specific learning styles. He argues that the best methods for engaging boys in subjects like literature or computer coding may differ from those that best engage girls. He criticizes a prevailing educational dogma, influenced by theories like Judith Butler's on gender as a social construct, which he believes overlooks these differences and can be detrimental to boys' academic experience.
To help parents assess their sons' schools, Sax suggests looking for indicators of a boy-friendly environment. These include a roughly 50-50 balance on honor rolls, the freedom for teachers to use gendered terms like "boys and girls," and the ability for top male athletes to also be recognized as scholars. He contends that in schools unfriendly to boys, male students often feel they must choose between academic achievement and athletic pursuits.
Sax advocates for "gender-aware instructional strategies" that can boost achievement for both genders without alienating either. He emphasizes that making schools more welcoming to boys does not require making them less supportive of girls. The goal, as outlined in "Boys Adrift," is to foster an educational system where all students can thrive.