Boys And Achievement Flashcards
Boys and literacy
DCSF found parents spend less time reading to boys, so they see it as a female activity, girls have a bedroom culture whilst boys pursue activities that don’t develop language and communication skills
Globalisation and decline of traditional men’s jobs
Mitsos and Browne argue that the decline in heavy industry jobs since 1980s has led to an identity crisis. Many boys think they have little prospect of getting proper job so don’t try hard in school
Feminisation of education
Sewell says schools don’t nurture masculine traits such as competitiveness and leadership and coursework should be replaced with final exams
Shortage of male primary school teachers
YouGov found only 14% of primary school teachers are male with 39% of 8–11-year-old boys having no lessons with male teachers
Are more male teachers needed?
Read studied language and found some teachers use a disciplinarian discourse (authority made explicit through shouting) whilst others see a liberal discourse (speaking to pupils as if they’re adults and expecting kindness etc). Read found most teachers use a ‘masculine’ disciplinarian discourse
‘Laddish’ subcultures
Epstein found wc boys more likely to be labelled as sissies and subjected to homophobic language. Francis found boys were more concerned about being labelled
‘Laddish’ subcultures
Epstein found wc boys more likely to be labelled as sissies and subjected to homophobic language. Francis found boys were more concerned about being labelled
Moral panic about boys
Ringrose says this ignores problems of disadvantaged wc and minority ethnic pupils. It also ignores problems faced by girls such as sexual harassment
Gender, class and ethnicity
McVeigh notes similarities between girls’ and boys’ achievement are far greater than differences, particularly those of the same social class
