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Boys’ Educational Failure is No Mystery

Struggling Schoolboy By Selwyn Duke

A lot has changed since 1960. If Connie Francis were to sing “Where
the Boys Are” today, she would not likely be talking about Ft.
Lauderdale. And she probably wouldn’t be talking about college, either.
This is because, in a decades-old phenomenon, boys have increasingly
been stumbling academically.

Colleges have taken note of this and, in certain cases (mostly
private institutions), have actually been favoring boys in the
admissions process. It’s an interesting, albeit unofficial, twist on
affirmative action. But this, in turn, has been noted by the U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights, inspiring it to investigate whether
colleges discriminate against girls by admitting less qualified boys.

Read the rest here.

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23 responses to “Boys’ Educational Failure is No Mystery”

  1. Shaun Avatar
    Shaun

    Great article Selwyn,
    There is another factor which I might add and would appreciate any response. In addition to the feminization of modern society Ive often wondered to to what effect our diet has on our disposition. More specifically what chemicals and preservatives are pumped into our food and water supplies. Nearly all commercial agriculture is grown with steroids, pesticides, artifical fertilizers etc. What effect will this have over the course of a lifetime? The human body can take enormous punishment but it needs solid nutrition to overcome and heal. I often wonder if most Americans do no receive proper nutrition and never achieve their potential because of it.
    The reason I bring this up is I would guess that nutrition plays no small factor in our upbringing. I believe the article states the principle causes but I couldn’t help thinking of food while reading this. On an extreme note, would our government be above using pacification drugs in munincipal water sources? I know thats a fringe thought but Im throwing out there nonetheless.
    Shaun

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  2. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    Great point Shaun, and Great article Selwyn. I read a book a while back that very much relates to this topic, it is called “Wild at Heart.” It is a very good read although I would not recomend it to a liberal…it makes sense.

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  3. Shaun Avatar
    Shaun

    Ive read wild at wild heart…agree its a good book.

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  4. Philip France Avatar
    Philip France

    Let’s face the facts:
    The low-hanging fruit as targets for the Leftist/Marxist agenda is the white, hetero-sexual, Christian male.
    There is no other demographic where insults and assaults are more welcome (and more tolerated). Nor or there any other groups whereby such insults and asaults are not met by commensurate outrage.
    I say this: It was largely white, anglo-saxon heterosexual Christian males who modeled and fashioned society; that is Western Society, into the greatest civil success in sociology that the world has ever known. This is the envy, and therefore the target, of the evil left to tear down so that THEIR hegemony might gain popularity.
    Fat chance.
    Truth will always and ultimately previal.
    See you after Rev. 22:21.
    Ta ta…

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  5. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    Jee wiz, avoiding the taliban supporting cooments on this site, maybe their are two stronger factors in play.
    1.Communication, assessment and analysis are all important qualities in a modern society -they tend to be factors that women have more strengths in.
    2. Women have less structural impediments to education than they used to have. My mother’s generation were forced to resign their jobs when they got married, even today countries that refuse to use the intellectual worth of 50% of the population are failing ecconomies. yes statstically boys are not thriving at school, however the difference is less than that for class or ethnicity.

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  6. John Avatar
    John

    Let’s see. How’s this explanation for why blacks aren’t doing as well as whites-communication, assessment and analysis are all important qualities in a modern society -they tend to be factors that whites have more strengths in.
    Yoyo, you have forevermore given up the right to criticize people here for pointing out differences between groups.
    Also, I know women talk a lot. But how does that mean they’re better at communication? They sure talk a lot. But what about brevity? Read this article by Duke-http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/extolling-the-female-tongue/
    And assessment and analysis? What makes you think they’re female strengths? If you’re ability to analyze is a good example then it certainly isn’t. Here is what I mean. Boys were doing better than girls in school 50 years ago. But you still needed to have reading comprehension and writing ability. You still needed to analyze. You still needed to assess. So what are you talking about?
    You are a good example of why women should stay in the kitchen.

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  7. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    Liberal foot soldiers don’t analyze or assess. All they are able to do is look at things on the surface and anything deeper all they do is feeeeeeeeeel. They are completely unable to separate their own feelings and facts. See, to yoyo, anything selwyn says probably isn’t true, cause she thinks hes a racist, bigot, homophobe, etc. Its the same token with all the liberal heros. They like michael moore,al gore, obama, and other “do as I say not as I do” types. See, michael moore is “funny” and is clever in his film making and is fighting to make a better world, so clearly everything he says must be true. Same with al gore. His goal is to save the planet! So everything he says must be true and his intentions must be pure!
    Liberals trust what have they to say because they like what they have to say. They are completely unable to separate a fact and a person they didn’t like. Im sure they would completely rewrite all we know of math if Jesus or Hitler(the 2 biggest extremes) ever uttered “2 + 2 = 4”. Truth isn’t important to liberals. They want to feel good, right now. And sometimes the truth is icky. So it must be done away with.

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  8. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    John it’s obvious you havent spent much time in a school lately. Do you realise how much the method of learning has changed? In my primary schooling we had minimal contact with computers my girls have been researching on line since 1st grade. History used to be taught as a set of dates, now it is taught by comparing first hand accounts from a range of sources. That is a just two items of difference but they have a serious impact. I dont think all changes in education policy have been positive, particularly i think whole word method of teaching literacy was a mistake. Regarding blacks and whites do you think access to books and computers at home plays NO role? if so you are thicker than you sound.

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  9. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    John if you want a little more evidence of the difference in apptitudes between the genders over issues such as writing and verbal ability look at the subjects of maths and many sciences where there is an emphasis on rote learning and black or white answers, males still outscore women there.

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  10. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    You said, “Regarding blacks and whites do you think access to books and computers at home plays NO role?”
    I think access to computers has a huge role…in the decline the growth of a boy to a man. Boys do not use computers to learn with for the most part, they use it as a substitute for reality and subsequently impair necessary development. The two big things boys do today on the computer is chat and porn. Chat cuts off the need to develop personal communication skills and porn cuts of the needs for relational skills. I think the lack of access to computers in the youth; especially boys could be a positive not a negative.

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  11. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    Walt of course young people waste tons of time on line, no doubting that, but we can put our heads in the sand. A successful adult needs to be able to research, compare and weigh internet evidence. It does no good to say that those without internet access will do best out of some old fashioned idea of informational purity when the evidence is that children without access to BOOKs and internet do increasingly poorly.

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  12. Philip France Avatar
    Philip France

    Precious yoyo,
    It would help your arguments if you were to support them with facts, data, hyperlinks to authoritative sources and quotes by acomplished and respected individuals.
    I mean no offense, but your opinion is not valued very highly by the posters here. Please give us the substance from which your opinions are formed and not just your opinions. You know what “they” say about opinions don’t you?
    In order for your philosophical and socio-political opposition to respect your viewpoint, you must, of necessity, supply empirical facts, datum or additional opinions of respected authorities to be anything more than playground chatter.
    Respectfully yours,
    Philip France

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  13. John Avatar
    John

    Walt didn’t say books, you silly woman. He was talking about computers only. And kids were far better educated many years ago before we used computers.

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  14. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    40 years ago. The home PC was virtually non existent, and where it was, it was not a learning tool beyond a few fun programs and how to type. The internet was in its zygote stage and only used by the government.
    Were people stupid back then? No. Did people not have access to a wealth of knowledge? No. There were these things called books that contained facts and information. Read it on a computer screen or on paper, it reads the same. Having access to virtually unlimited amounts of information does not make learning easier, or make people smarter.
    Like walt said, most of those kids use computers for chating and porn. Video games are also on the list. Hell, when I was in school we had classes where we used computers. The kids that were too stupid to use computers, were too stupid to use them to learn. And the kids like me, were busy trying to hack them so we could surf the internet. ( warning to teachers, NEVER have the password be the room number, thats just retarded and predictable). The only person here who is thick, is you. The internet and expensive toys are about as effective as gold plated books. They do nothing to enhance a students ability to learn. And there is NOT a shortage of things and ways for them to learn things.

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  15. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    John first, I have more books than god as the saying goes, I am an obsessive reader something I encourage in my kids. However, the fact that we are having this oh so enlightening chat on the internet rather than through an exchange of articles should tell you something. I agree that much on the net is crap but a child without access to a decent computer and reasonable internet access is terribly handicapped these days. Whether you or I like it much of the educational curriculum is shaped around using these tools. as an aside I think the last time i had someone apply for a position with me with a hand written or typed letter would have been in the very early 80’s.
    Philip my sweet, you mean the people here dont like my point of view? Say it aint so! Of course I could attach links (although this site seems a bit touchy sometimes) it would be interesting to be the only one here who has to do so.
    Bit like Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astair – if you can follow the analogy.
    However, since i useually post literally on the fly, it would mean that I can contribute here very often. MMMMM, why does that appear to be the outcome sought?
    Just for you I’ve added a link http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ic1.nsf/eng/02497.html to a Canadian initiative designed to reduce the disadvantage of their aboriginal population by providing access to computers. Wow who would have thought!

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  16. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    Again, I try to comment and it eats my response. So in brief, incase this is a repeat.
    john, I am obsessive about books and have taught my kids to be too. However any child without access to a computer and internet access is severly disadvantaged. Whether you or I like it much of todays curriculum is based around skills using these tools.
    Dear Philip, since i post literally on the fly to put links in all my argument would reduce my ability to post, why do i think that might be what is being sought here? You say that many who comment here dont like my opinions? say it aint so (LOL). However just for you boys here’s a link to a project designed to reduce disadvantage amongst Canadian indiginous kids by providing access to computers. http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ic1.nsf/eng/02497.html
    “This initiative was led by Computers for Schools, which in cooperation with governments, businesses and the voluntary sector has provided more than 400 000 refurbished computers to schools and libraries across Canada,” said Minister Rock. “By helping Aboriginal preschoolers and young people, including those in La Loche, gain access to computers at an early age, the program is enabling them to develop critical skills that they can use throughout their lives.”
    “Health Canada’s Aboriginal Head Start Program gives Aboriginal children the best possible start in life,” said Minister McLellan. “Recognizing the benefits of providing teachers and parents of these children with greater access to computers, Health Canada provided funding for the upgrading and transportation of computers to Aboriginal preschools. The improved learning opportunities will enhance the futures of these youngsters.”

    Hope that helps.

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  17. Larry Rivera Avatar
    Larry Rivera

    Boy! What arrogance to say that yoyo’s “opinions are not valued very highly by the posters here.”
    Like you guys are a bunch of geniuses with classical educations and time on your hands to complain about…Just about everything. Really, beside King Selwyn and Jesus do you boys like anything? It’s like visiting the nursing home for a talk with granddad, who hasn’t approved of anything since Eisenhower left office.
    Look…you may not agree with her. That’s okay. That’s too much to expect even. But, if you can’t appreciate the intelligence driving her posts, you’re a just nitwit blowhard hoping for a pat on the head from Daddy Duke.

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  18. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    What can I say, I’m touched Larry – thank you.

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  19. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    Larry said, “Like you guys are a bunch of geniuses with classical educations…”
    Larry, how is a classical education possible in America without private education. The most fundamental and influential document to world civilization has been barred from our schools; The Bible. A classical education without a full perspective is impossible. Instead we pretend the Torah and the Bible never existed and fill in the blanks with conjecture. I call that classical conditioning not education. Wouldn’t you say that one who has a working understanding (not to be confused with and active faith) of the Bible closer to “classically educated” than one who does not?

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  20. Philip France Avatar
    Philip France

    My applause to yoyo for (finally) including a hyperlink to support her argument (and a fairly good one at that). However, I must refer back to the original intent of Selwyn’s article and the source of this debate by reminding you boys and girls that this article was and is about discrimination.
    Those that are discriminated against are abundantly white, Anglo-Saxon, heterosexual Christian males. Is there a more easy target for the vitriol of the lunatic left? For those intent on re-writing the history that this is the demographic, like it or not, that has been responsible for the production of the most economically viable, militarily powerful and prosperous advances in humankind and in staggering proportion (when related to the abundance of human history); what have you to say?
    The facts and evidence are undeniable. I repeat, ad nauseum, that left-think is based on lies. This great LIE is therefore necessary for their argument to be continued.
    Precious yoyo, Larry, Robert Berger and so on and so forth, go on believing these lies. Go ahead and applaud and promote the inevitable human suffering that your beliefs result in. In the end, the Truth shall prevail. At some point in time, you will answer for your foolishness and your defense of evil. In the end, it will be those of us that have stood for Truth to be your judges (Rev. 20:4).

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  21. Larry Rivera Avatar
    Larry Rivera

    Philip…You know what I believe do ya? If that’s true let’s meet up in Vegas. We should do okay with intuition like that.

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  22. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    walt, not to be too picky but a “classical” education is actually pre bible, it’s cicero and plato and epicurius etc. I know my final year at high school (your equivalent of age 17) was the final year to have a latin option I’ve forgotten most of it know i admit. However if you are talking about comparative religion, which I suspect you are not, it is still easy to find that in a government school. It is now also possible to do a “classical” ethics course.
    However, whatever the content of the school programme, the key factor is going to be what you model for your children. If you teach your kids to be respectful but questioning/discriminating, caring and resilient that’s what they will pick up on.
    Mind you with the best will in the world they could end up Prius driving vegans but what can you do LOL.

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  23. democrat Avatar
    democrat

    excellent point Larry… the only thing these boys like is attempting to type with one hand while self-pleasing with the other. these are just lonely souls with no life except to sit in judgement of others.

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