Neighbor News
We have lost focus of boys in school.
MSW Student advocating for a social issue that surrounds us locally and nation wide.
Girls have been excelling in school for the past century. But what about boys? The demands of the school curriculum and its design to prepare our children for college is taking away their opportunity to blossom into unique, innovative and creative children.
Schools across the nation have removed recess or physical activity from the daily schedule in order to meet the criteria set before them by the Department of Education. Experts believe physical activity is essential for children. Physical activity actually helps them learn. Boys are full of energy that they are just waiting to expel. Asking boys to sit still for long periods of time, decreasing or eliminating recess all together is hurting boys.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2005-2006, that 15% of U.S. children aged 4-17 years old had parents who talked to a health care provider or school staff about their child’s emotional or behavioral difficulties. Of this, 18% of these numbers were boys (Use of Mental Health Services in the Past 12 Months by Children Aged 4-17 Years: The United States, 2005-2006, 2008)! What are we doing society?
If we speak specific to gender, typically we talk to girls more, we give them more reinforcement, "Good job sweetie!" Boys run around and are playful and get dirty, maybe even get hurt and we don't spend the time talking to them like we do girls. Girls are natural talkers. Maybe that's it. But parents, there is a change in the school that is forcing us, as parents to do more at home.
It is time to focus on empowering boys. If the school is removing physical activity we need to supply it. Get boys involved in activities after school. This movement and socializing are much more than just that. This movement is allowing them to build their motor skills. This movement Boys can be both, masculine and brains. Let’s face it, the gender roles of the past, have changed much today. By reinforcing the importance to excel in school and to pursue higher education while still being able to be the rambunctious boy that most are, will help produce stronger boys and stronger men. Let us change the focus.
