Week 4 Discussion - Change Our Boys or Change the System?

Gurian and Stevens ask if we should "keep trying to change our boys" or should we instead "change the educational system in which they are now taught." How do they address this question?

The authors believe that we should “change the educational system in which they are now taught,” and strongly feel that the system is the reason for boys often failing.  Gurian and Stevens argue that the hardwiring of boy’s brains affects the way they learn and make decisions and based on research this is true from four days after birth.  With biological and social evidence that has now been researched, it is frustrating to the authors that changes have not been forth coming in the educational system.  They view themselves as ambassadors for boys and would advocate for changing the system, no matter how difficult that would seem to be.

Do you agree or disagree with their position? (Text page 284)

I agree with the position of the authors and experienced our school trying new ways to reach boys by creating single gender classrooms.  What was interesting was the teachers, administrators, and district office was very impressed with the outcomes of the trial year of having boys and girls separated in the core classes, but the parents did not support the continuation of the program.  I completely agree that boys and girls learn differently and have various needs when processing information.  My music classes are structured in a way that allows boys and girls to express themselves and learn in ways that some teachers view as unstructured, but I have experienced much success by allowing students natural learning patterns based on gender.