Boys Learn More From Men And Girls Learn More ...

Boys Learn More From Men and girls learn more from women. Stanford University scholar Thomas Dee drew this conclusion from a national study of 8th graders. Today roughly 80% of U.S. public school teachers are women, the highest ratio in 40 years. The study found switching teachers can narrow gender achievement gaps, but one gains at the expense of the other. Gender also influences attitudes. With a female teacher, boys are more likely to be seen as disruptive while girls are less likely to be considered inattentive or disorderly. If taught by a man, girls are more likely to say the subject is not useful for their future and are less likely to look forward to the class or to ask questions. Not surprising, the National Education Association takes issue with Dee’s findings. Dee says his research raises valid questions such as; Should teachers get more training about the learning styles of boys and girls? Should they be taught to combat biases in what they expect of boys and girls? (USA Today 8/28/06)