I've been a follower of the Gurian Institute in the USA for quite a few years now. They have boldly gone where few have dared before - focusing on boy issues. And more recently on girls as well - illustrating how boys and girls learn differently. Their latest research numbers are not encouraging for boys. Thanks to Michael Gurian confirming what I've felt for a long time. And for allowing me to share their research as follows.
* Boys have fallen behind girls in every area of education from Preschool through Graduate school.
* 85% of stimulant-addressing medications (like Ritalin) prescribed in the world are prescribed to U.S. boys.
* Boys are twice as likely as girls to be victims of violence in America, but in certain age groups the ratio is 6:1.
* Boys receive two-thirds of the Ds and Fs in our schools but less than 40 percent of the As.
* Boys are twice as likely as girls to be labeled as “emotionally disturbed” and twice as likely to be diagnosed with a behavioural or learning disorder.
* Boys are four times as likely as girls to be suspended or expelled from early childhood and K-12 learning environments.
* Over the last 20 years, the reading skills of 17-year-old boys have steadily declined.
What's the long term affect of this twenty year trend?
A seriously unbalanced university enrolment, a shortage of "good men out there" and a lot of unhappy men and women. Not to mention a serious lack of social skills and just plain respect for the opposite sex.