Why Do Boys Fall Behind At School?

Who was the naughtiest kid in your class? Chances are it was a boy. I had a few mischievous girls in my classes, but the boys always won when it came to being sent out of class and disciplined. 

Why are boys always the ones getting detention? Are they actually more badly behaved than their sisters? Or do teachers single them out and punish them more readily than girls?

Researchers from The University of New Brunswick , in the US conducted a huge study involving the academic results in over one million boys and girls in 30 different nations. 

Overwhelmingly the girls outperformed the boys academically, even in kindergarten. 

The girls were also punished less than the boys. 

Claire Cameron Ponitz from the Center for the Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning at the University of Virginia studies kindergarten readiness in 4 and 5 year old kids. The kids who do the best in kindy have good ‘self regulation’. This means that they practice good self discipline such as raising a hand in class, listening for long periods, waiting their turn and following instructions. 

Girls outshine the boys with ‘self regulation’ and therefore learn more quickly. They also enjoy school more because they don’t get into trouble as much as the boys.
This inevitably leads on to a better academic track record for girls all through their school years. 

The seeds are sown very early. 

Girls tend to do better at homework and assignments and are more organised, but interestingly, boys excel at tests. This is because there is an adrenaline rush with cramming for a test and completing it. Although boys often miss the second part of a test if it’s on the other side of the page...

Some more facts about primary school aged boys:

• Boys comprise 67 percent of all special education students.

•    Boys account for 71% of all school suspensions in the US
•    Boys are five times more likely than girls to be classified as hyperactive
•    Boys are 30% more likely to drop out of school than girls.

So how do we prevent our boys from being treated unfairly and falling behind? 

There are several factors:

1.    More male teachers. In Australia, 70% of teachers are female. While a good teacher isn’t determined by sex, it would be great to have more male role models for boys to look up to. 
2.    Understanding how boys learn. Boys tend to have more energy to expel than their female classmates and shorter attention spans, so this should be factored into classrooms. They also love hands-on projects and are better at tests than doing homework. 
3.    Use discipline only when it’s needed. In order for boys to flourish, we need to lay off unfair punishments and celebrate the great stuff they do.
4.    Make technology available. Girls and boys both love new technology, and as digital natives, they have a natural affinity for it. As boys are very hands on and love competition, educational games are great to build up their skills. 

Source : parents[dot]nickjr[dot]com[dot]au