WP: Educators Differ on Why Boys Lag in Reading: Gap Stokes Debate

[DeepModem Mom]

Educators Differ on Why Boys Lag in Reading
Gap Stokes Debate Over Teaching Approaches, Curricula

By Valerie Strauss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2005; Page A12


....Enticing boys to read -- and to keep reading -- is the flip side of the sometimes fierce debate about girls and their math and science abilities, and both issues are receiving new attention as educators focus on how boys and girls learn differently.

The controversy about gender and learning was stoked anew when Harvard University President Larry Summers recently questioned girls' intrinsic abilities in math and science. Then first lady Laura Bush spoke about her new effort to help boys, who she said are falling dangerously behind girls in such areas as literacy.

Some educators have said that the concern over boys is exaggerated and that boys end up doing just fine, holding top jobs and being paid higher average salaries than women. Others, however, have said boys face an unprecedented literary crisis that limits their opportunities, citing studies showing that the gap between the sexes -- dating back to the 19th century -- has increased markedly.

***

Exactly what should be done, however, is unclear, because there is no consensus on how much genetics, environment and culture are responsible for the gap. And it is not strictly a U.S. phenomenon: Stephen Gorard, education professor at the University of York in England, reviewed scores for 22 countries and discovered gaps in every one, despite differences in school setups and curricula.

What is known is that boys generally take longer to learn to read than girls; they read less and are less enthusiastic about it; and they have more trouble understanding narrative texts yet are better at absorbing informational texts. Those findings are from a literacy study done in 2002, "Reading Don't Fix No Chevys," by Michael W. Smith, a Temple University professor, and Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Boise State University English education professor....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35057-2005Mar14.html

[Trillo]

1. Because school teaches them they can't read?

I'm sorry, but if a boy enters the school system that can read, why do educators teach them they can't?

Perhaps to keep that kid with the rest of their 'peers'? Lengthen the number of years spent in education, transferring more money to the school district in the process?

I'm so dissapointed they did this to me by the 8th grade. No kids for educators to ruin from this human.

[heidler1]

2. I was a pretty good reader, but refused to read boring books.

We had to do a book report every month and the teacher wouldn't let me do any more of the Tarzan books so I thought screw it and would of failed rather than compromise. Fortunately the old Gal that volunteered in my home town of 850 people suggested Jack London's "Call of the Wild" and I was off and running again.

[bemildred]

3. Maybe treating them all like widgets is the wrong approach? nt

[DiverDave]

4. HELLO...How about reading to your kids?

I started reading to our 2 boys when they were infants.
My 7 year old has his nose stuck in a book more then the playstation...
My 4 year old can read some words, and he's getting better.
Once again, the prime cause for ANY child lagging in learning is the parents.

Oh, how I loath people that have em and forget em.

[Mari333]

6. yep, I did too

and all 3 of my sons were reading by the age of 4 and 5 years old. Children can learn at VERY young ages..my oldest son could point out letters of the alphabet at 14 months old..
Its just a matter of taking the time to do it.
Now they are adults..if I gave them anything, I gave them the ability to read. For all the mistakes I may have made, Im glad I did one thing right..

[MrPrax]

5. Boys LIke Reading Genre Stuff...

But unfortunately genre type books (as well as non-fiction) is not respected as 'lit-rah-ture' by educators.

This 'ranking' system is a pervasive attitude that even men have internalized--I don't know how many times I have heard a guy say he doesn't read much, but then sitdown and read the entire 'sports' section of a newpaper, day in, day out.

[cally]

7. And many women like reading Romance

or other types of genre type stuff. Just get folks to read. They'll be able to read and interpret if we all get off our snide intellectualism and tell what to read.

[cally]

8. I think some of this is the hero worship of sports figures

and action heros. Their success is not due to reading and they are seen as the standard for manhood. I've heard too many elementary age boys tell me that reading is for sissies.

In fourth grade, the teacher assigned 'Little House on the Prairie.' The outrage from the parents of the boys was just incredible. "My son does not have to read about some girl. It's boring and will make him dislike reading." "Assign books with boys or my son will not read it."

I do agree there should be a balance but boys should read about girls as much as girls should read about boys. The teacher changed the assignment and never assigned another book with a lead female character. :eyes:

[mainer]

9. stephen king wrote a terrific essay about "boring books"

He remembers slogging through "literature" while in school and hating it. Then he discovered genre fiction and a whole new world of reading opened up to him. We have to STOP categorizing popular fiction as junk, and encourage our kids to read, period.

I spoke to a woman recently who hadn't read a book in five years. her reason? She used to belong to a hoity toity book group that only chose "worthwhile" books. she found them so boring, she stopped reading altogether. her book group experience caused her to associate reading with pain and boredom.

Then she discovered thriller novels, and has been reading ever since. And she thinks back on those literary novels as being the equivalent of "brussels sprouts" which few people enjoy, but feel compelled to eat.

Popular fiction is popular for a reason. It's fun to read.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Re. reading books just for fun --

I'm all for this, and read lots of books just for fun. I would, however, regret a generation of kids who've not read classics of literature (both old, and more recent). (Or do we already have such a generation?) Even if some kids find these books boring, a good teacher can make them come alive. IMO, classic books have a lot of life lessons in them, and also help kids develop good writing skills.