Which gender is smarter? This has been the age old debate on school playgrounds across the nation and world for decades now. Ask any child this question and they will quickly rattle off reasons their gender is more intelligent than the other. This topic has popped into public debate more recently as studies and statistics are showing that boys are struggling more in primary schooling than girls are today. Many researchers and experts have explored the reasons boys seem to be struggling more in the American school system than girls. In light of new trends in the modern economy, this is an important situation to evaluate.The era when men are topdog is truly coming to an end. There are distinct patterns emerging. Girls are achieving more than boys in schools, kindergartens, and more women are graduating from college than men

In many ways, the gender tables have turned: more women are employed than men, more women are graduating from college, and more women are holding managerial position than men.

As with most things, the issue can be traced to its origin: primary schooling.

But, why are young boys struggling with academics more than young girls?

 

Boys Act Out More in School

Boys are acting out more in school than girls are. Many scholars have linked this “acting out” to the male genders’ need to assert masculinity. Many of the behaviors that young boys are punished and reprimanded for are ones that they perform to demonstrate their masculinity. This is an unconscious attempt on the part of young boys. With a higher percentage of elementary school teachers being female, many think that young boys are rebelling against their authority as women. Whether this is truly the case or not is uncertain, but there is no question that boys are experiencing more behavioral missteps in school. Part of the reason for boys’ tendency to act out in class could have to do with our next reason boys are struggling in school: physical activity.

 

Physical Activity is More Limited Now

With huge budget cuts to schools across the nation and more stress being put on school teachers to prepare students for standardize testing, the amount of physical activity during the school day has dropped. Young boys are shown to have more trouble sitting in one spot for an extended period of time than girls are. With school days becoming longer and the amount of silent work time becoming more grueling, boys are bound to struggle. Young boys need hands on learning activities that allow them to exert some energy. Physical play is an essential aspect of learning for both boys and girls especially at the early stages of elementary school. Without recess and outdoor play, students (particularly boys) are unable to experience this type of learning. Boys succeed very well with hands-on learning opportunities, whereas girls succeed more with thinking and processing a topic internally. These differences are things that need to be addressed in primary schools across the board.

 

The Average Boy is Less Mature than the Average Girl in Kindergarten

We have known for many years that boys mature more slowly than girls. This is not to say that they are less intelligent by any means. However, this does play an important role in how they learn and what types of activities they succeed with. The average boy entering schooling age is less mature socially, less verbal, and more active than the average girl. This sets boys up for failure in a classroom setting and can cause them to resent schooling in some ways. The way our schools are set up right now may be asking too much of our young male students for their developmental level.

Hanna Rosin: New data on the rise of women

The era when men are topdog is truly coming to an end. There are distinct patterns emerging. Girls are achieving more than boys in schools, kindergartens, and more women are graduating from college than men

 

This guest post is contributed by Katheryn Rivas, who writes for online universities blog.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.

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