Boys and Educational Achievement Flashcards
What did the DCSF say was the main reason for educational difference between the 2 genders?
Boys poorer literacy and language skills.
Why don’t boys like reading?
- Feminised –> a ‘waste of time’ thus avoided.
- Girls not just main consumers but are the ones more likely to read to their children. Not a same sex role model for boys?
What types of texts do boys and girls prefer to read?
Girls - fiction.
Boys- info.
What did Oakhill + Petrides (2007) say about gender and reading?
- Boys interest in the content depended on their ability to understand a text; girls not the case.
Name some policies introduced to try and improve boy’s literacy skills?
1) ‘Playing for Success’ - using sports to boost learning skills.
2) ‘National Literacy Strategy’ - improving boy’s literacy.
3) ‘Reading Champions Scheme’ - male role models.
How has globalisation effected boy’s educational achievement?
- Decline of traditional men’s jobs such as iron and steel.
= lack motivation and ambition due to limited prospects.
Relating to globalisation, what did Mitsos + Browne say was the consequence of it?
- Men feel a masculinity/identity crisis as they are not the breadwinner anymore, or can’t be.
- To express masculinity in other ways; boys become anti-school, macho and draw unwanted attention to themselves.
How is education feminised?
- Schools do not nurture ‘masculine’ traits such as competitiveness and leadership.
= prefer methodological working and attentiveness which is typical of girls.
How does a shortage of male primary school teachers effect male educational achievement?
- Lack of male role models at home and school.
- Believe success is feminine as such.
- Some females may be unable to control boy’s behaviour.
=imposing discipline –> concentration. - Read - found that most teachers used the ‘masculine’ approach to discipline.
What % of primary school teachers are male?
16%
What did Yougov (2007) find?
39% of 8-11 year old’s have no lessons with a male teacher.
How does Francis (2006) contradict the importance of male primary teachers?
- 2/3 of 7/8 year old’s believed gender didn’t matter.
How do teachers influence boys achievement?
- They have lower expectations of them; willing to extend deadlines, be more tolerant of disruption.
= SFP.
What did Forde et al. (2006) find with masculinity and anti-learning subcultures?
- Peer group pressure encourages maintenance of a masculinity identity; = resisting school which is incompatible with academic success.
- Gain status by doing things that oppose school culture.
What did Epstein (1998) find with masculinity and anti-learning subcultures?
- W/C boys likely to be harassed, labelled as ‘sissies’ and are subject to homophobic verbal abuse if they appear to be hard-working.
= Academic success in conflict with idea of masculinity.
= Boys concerned more with labels so are more willing to prove otherwise.
