What about boys?

Write on the post it note WHY you think boys underachieve today

Mitsos and Browne 1998 4 areas that explain why boys underachieve at school: Teachers Disruption Status The changing job market

1. Teachers Evidence shows that teachers are not as strict with boys as they are with girls They are more likely to extend deadlines for work, to have lower expectations of them and to be more tolerant of their unruly behaviour

Stanworth (1983) Spender (1983) Teachers gave more time and attention to boys Expected more from boys Expressed more concern and interest in boys Spender (1983) Boys received over 60% of teachers’ time Allowed boys to get away with insulting comments to girls

2. Disruption Boys are generally more disruptive than girls in the classroom In 2008/09 the permanent exclusion rate for boys was approximately 3.5 times higher than that for girls 78% of permanent exclusions were boys

Boys lose more learning time than girls because of this behaviour Approx 30% of exclusions from school in 2008/09 were due to ‘persistent disruptive behaviour’ Boys lose more learning time than girls because of this behaviour

3. Status Boys appear to gain 'street cred' and peer group status by not working Develop almost an anti-education, anti-learning sub-culture School work is seen as un-macho This may explain why boys tend to be less conscientious and lack the persistence and application required for exam success

Paul Willis Learning to Labour How does Willis’ study support the idea that boys see school work as un-cool?

4. The changing job market Decline in traditional male jobs Boys may lack motivation and ambition because they may feel their prospects are limited Unemployment has resulted in a number of (mostly white working class) boys and men having lowered expectations, a low self-image and a lack of self-esteem

Traditional male jobs are now in decline Growth of the ‘service sector’ where the jobs are mainly done by women Women seem to have more employment opportunities than men, today

Anything else? More emphasis on coursework Increase in single parent families: fewer male role models? Parental attitudes/early socialisation Boys spend less time reading Boys less motivated? Gender regimes in the home: women as organisers, men as ‘macho’ with little regard for authority Boys socialised to be aggressive