It is with confusion and sadness I write today’s blog post. After watching my Year 12 son receive the award of Sportsman of the Year 2016 at his High School awards evening last night, it struck me that the majority of recipients of Academic awards were female students. At least 85% of the school cohort in the top 4% of their class were female students.
What also struck a chord was the Student Leaders of 2017 will be all female, there will be no male role model in a leadership position in 2017 at our school. I understand the whole “best person for the job” scenario that seems to be rife in the school system at the moment. What this does is remove the goal for boys to strive for. If they don’t see a boy their age in the position of Captain or Vice Captain, why would they strive to be that. It’s the same argument we used twenty years ago for girls. One male and one female leader, it equals balance not only in appearance but in needs based leadership. It gives a balanced argument and perspective of the needs of the student body. If the boys don’t have a voice on Council then how will they see that they have a place in the wider school community? If only the female perspective is given how can our boys have an opportunity for inclusion?
Non Gender based promotion and recognition, all well and good in the workplace,however in the Secondary School system it doesn’t work. It can’t work, because there are so many boys being left behind. So many boys put in the too hard basket by a system that doesn’t celebrate them, doesn’t encourage them to thrive. Classrooms set up for the proliferation of learning by the female brain not the active classroom needed for boys to thrive.
“Simple changes to the pace and tempo of the school day, such as incorporating several brief recesses throughout the day, devoting more time to physical education, and including more hands-on activities go a long way towards alleviating some of the natural restlessness of boys and harnessing male energy in positive ways. How much Ritalin could remain on the shelves if we created schools that are ready for boys rather than boys who are ready for schools?” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-day/why-boys-are-failing-in-a_b_884262.html
The scales have tipped to not an even playing field for girls but have now tipped out of balance and we are penalising boys for being boys.
Our boys are falling behind not only in academic pursuits but also sporting pursuits – the lack of acknowledgement of their achievements versus the complete attention to their failings and faults creates an attitude of “why should I care?” “no one else gives a damn”in our teen boys. It develops and builds the chips on their shoulders and makes them angry and disconnected from those very people that are put in charge to help them be successful.
Don’t get me wrong I have a daughter as well as two sons so I can see the comparison and the level of attention my daughter receives for a “job well done” to the attention my sons get. Praise is heaped on girls for every small achievement whilst discipline and “keeping them inline” is the focus on the boys.
The focus, boys are dangerous, they are not worthy of attention or praise just by being boys. We should be mindful of how we recognise the girls achievements however we should be equally mindful of the lack of encouragement we give our boys.
A change is required in the Education System itself and focus back onto delivering a full education for all students regardless of Gender. It is possible – it’s not easy. Teachers please take a look around your classroom, find that troubled boy and make a point of telling him that he is worthy, he is special, he has something to offer. Acknowledge the small things- even if it’s just his attendance in you class after a long absence. Praise the crap out of the boys in your class for every little thing. An increase in a grade even by 1% is worthy, a smile and a hello from a normally belligerent grumpy teen boy is worthy.
We can do better, we must do better and we must parents, educators, coaches, join with our teens and find out what they want, discuss their needs, LISTEN to them. Implement changes that will see our boys shine and stand proud again.
Restoring my soul. 
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