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Has anyone read Boys Adrift?
http://www.boysadrift.com/
I'm half way through the book. It's compelling, yet I find the author to be unnecessarily extreme in his conclusions. You can read his poorly formatted summary here:
http://www.singlesexschools.org/ultrashort.htm
I've posted about this subject a number of times:
http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showth...highlight=boys
http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showth...light=robinson
I feel strongly that the North American education system is in a state of crisis, especially in dealing with boys. I'm not alone. Yesterday, I was talking with my older boys high school Rugby coach while watching them practice. As an aside, in Canada, teachers are not paid extra to coach a school team. They are compensated well enough to simply teach a subject in the classroom and those who love sports volunteer their time above and beyond. If a school can't assign a dedicated coach from faculty they simply don't field a team or, parents may be permitted to step in and volunteer. Fortunately, my boys school has some great teachers and coaches who dedicate a great deal of time. They also allow me to assist with the football and basketball teams.
Back to the subject, out of blue my son's coach spoke of how much more difficult it has become over the past 5 or so years dealing with boys, both in the classroom and in sports. He is five years away from retirement. It was comforting and yet distressing to hear him say the same things that I have been saying about this current generation.
Beyond school, I can readily see this crisis playing itself out among the youth in my Ward and Stake. As an eternal young men's president I spend most of my energy at church finding ways to motivate the boys to want to do anything, let alone something both fun and educational. Consciously, nearly every quorum lesson I teach I steer towards a discussion about going to college or University and simply getting motivated for life. They sometimes get a little frustrated with me, but I feel like I can't let up. Too many of their parents are complicit in empowering the boys inertia. Afraid to take a stand on an issue; afraid to speak bluntly. And worst of all they are simply unwilling to get involved with activities, too happy to defer to me and my counselors.
There's an epidemic of inertia and I have exhausted myself trying to step beyond it. Maybe I should've posted in the Foyer but this is a societal issue. As another aside, I actually find that early morning Seminary has been an incredible blessing and great motivator for my own boys. But Scouting and Duty to God offer little by way of the kind of structure that is needed in the here and now to deal with this very real dilemma.
Somethings gotta give ... what, I don't know?
http://www.boysadrift.com/
I'm half way through the book. It's compelling, yet I find the author to be unnecessarily extreme in his conclusions. You can read his poorly formatted summary here:
http://www.singlesexschools.org/ultrashort.htm
I've posted about this subject a number of times:
http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showth...highlight=boys
http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showth...light=robinson
I feel strongly that the North American education system is in a state of crisis, especially in dealing with boys. I'm not alone. Yesterday, I was talking with my older boys high school Rugby coach while watching them practice. As an aside, in Canada, teachers are not paid extra to coach a school team. They are compensated well enough to simply teach a subject in the classroom and those who love sports volunteer their time above and beyond. If a school can't assign a dedicated coach from faculty they simply don't field a team or, parents may be permitted to step in and volunteer. Fortunately, my boys school has some great teachers and coaches who dedicate a great deal of time. They also allow me to assist with the football and basketball teams.
Back to the subject, out of blue my son's coach spoke of how much more difficult it has become over the past 5 or so years dealing with boys, both in the classroom and in sports. He is five years away from retirement. It was comforting and yet distressing to hear him say the same things that I have been saying about this current generation.
Beyond school, I can readily see this crisis playing itself out among the youth in my Ward and Stake. As an eternal young men's president I spend most of my energy at church finding ways to motivate the boys to want to do anything, let alone something both fun and educational. Consciously, nearly every quorum lesson I teach I steer towards a discussion about going to college or University and simply getting motivated for life. They sometimes get a little frustrated with me, but I feel like I can't let up. Too many of their parents are complicit in empowering the boys inertia. Afraid to take a stand on an issue; afraid to speak bluntly. And worst of all they are simply unwilling to get involved with activities, too happy to defer to me and my counselors.
There's an epidemic of inertia and I have exhausted myself trying to step beyond it. Maybe I should've posted in the Foyer but this is a societal issue. As another aside, I actually find that early morning Seminary has been an incredible blessing and great motivator for my own boys. But Scouting and Duty to God offer little by way of the kind of structure that is needed in the here and now to deal with this very real dilemma.
Somethings gotta give ... what, I don't know?