Our Dumbed Down Schools

One of my friends brought this specific article to my attention. It has a wealth of sources, and I can attest to the truth of it all. Our schools have been feminized and dumbed down. Here in a nutshell is a summary of bias against boys:

Start of School Very Different for Parents of Boys, Parents of Girls by Glenn Sacks, September 20, 2004. "Simply put, modern schools are not boy-friendly. ... Modern K-12 education is not suited to boys' needs and learning styles."
The article takes particular note of anti-boy developments like these:

• medicalization of normal boy behaviors
• trend against competition
• cooperative learning strategies
• no right or wrong answers
• lack of solid conclusions
• efforts to make schools gentler
• loss of action and adventure literature
• adoption of subtle, reflective literature
• dearth of male teachers
• little outlet for natural boyish energy
• decline in recess and gym

Read the entire article in IllinoisLoop.org on Gender Bias.

I would also argue that this kind of discrimination harms girls---those who understand that their teachers are biased against their male classmates, and their brothers, and also those who in time find the dumbed down, touchy-feely, no-wrong-answer and often slower-paced "learning process" supremely frustrating.

Here's what another friend had to say:

This is exactly what has been motivating me for the last ten years..."wake up affluent suburban parents"--we can't all afford out of state or private schools and endless tutoring. And, even when money is no object, how much time in the day do we expect our kids to spend in school? The school day must be more academic, or school choice legislation must provide academic choices for families. Instead, Illinois is pouring more money in day care (universal preschool that's not universal) instead of spending on U of I, accelerated programs in elementary, and closing failing schools. I also think reform strategy dependent on "more parent involvement" is a loser. Were (our) immigrant parents involved in their kids education?

And after Columbine the atmosphere got even more oppressive. But the solution is not to view all boys as suspect, it is the opposite--to engage boys where they are and challenge them to compete and excel.

We have got to come to grips with this feminist, PC drivel that has criminalized the behavior of a Tom Sawyer and pushed less fortunate boys off the ladder to success in life.

And we need school choice for everyone.