Gender Gap in Suburban Schools

Vindication, years later, too late for many. Wilmette District 39 discovers boys have not been doing well in its schools. And I guess they found enough test scores that had been conveniently "lost" to parents with concerns on this and other issues. Tribune:

The committee of teachers, administrators and parents reviewed four years of test scores and grades, broken down by gender. They compared the data to national findings, surveyed teachers and reviewed brain research on gender differences.

The committee found that in Grades 5 through 8 the girls' classroom grades were higher than boys in reading, writing, science and math, with the gap widening in the older grades. Boys were significantly more likely to receive a C or lower in class, and girls were more likely to get an A.

On standardized tests, boys fared better in math, but continued to fall behind in language arts.

The research showed that 71 percent of the district's special education pupils are boys, and that boys represent the majority of discipline referrals and suspensions. More than 3,500 pupils are enrolled in District 39.

"Everything they're finding, we're finding around the country," said Michael Gurian, a national expert and author on gender differences. He recently spoke to teachers from District 39 and Avoca School District 37, also based in Wilmette.

"The gap exists among all races and income, across the board," said Gurian of Spokane, Wash., who said that Wilmette's study is among the few nationwide that analyze a single school district.

The study notes that the focus has shifted to boys, nationally, after years spent addressing anti-female bias in classrooms and the workplace.

Those of us who asked these questions years ago were demonized as "dangerous". One of their recommendations is more competition in the classroom. Hopefully this CRC report will not be shelved to gather dust, like so many before it.

Suburban kids have more resources to counter the failure of their schools, underprivileged kids are not so lucky and have fewer alternatives. Wilmette is presenting the study to other school boards and administrators:

Officials plan to work with neighboring elementary school districts and New Trier for further study, and will present the report during an Illinois Association of School Boards conference in Chicago this November.

It would be a very positive step if Wilmette District 39 and other school districts' efforts to nurture social responsibility extended to supporting school choice, at least for those less fortunate. This would follow well in the tradition espoused by New Trier---

To commit minds to inquiry, hearts to compassion, and lives to the service of humanity.®