The gender gap
Yesterday the NZ Herald reported on the widening gap between male and female academic achievement in New Zealand schools. Interestingly, US network PBS (sorry can't find link) reported on a similar trend in the US but the statistics painted a different kind of picture.
Class and race appear to have a greater impact on male academic achievement than just gender, PBS reported. The rate of university enrolments among middle class whites, for instance, was 49% for males and 51% for females - hardly a cause for concern.
However, among low income groups and ethnic minorities the gap is huge. Clearly boys brought up in these environments or communities are not overcoming barriers to achievement at the same rate as girls. There is even affirmative action for boys taking place.
None of this undoes what Paul Baker had to say in the Herald yesterday, especially as most low-income children rely on state co-ed education. However, I would like to see the New Zealand statistics broken down by other factors than just gender. It is a complex problem, and we need to look at all the angles.
Class and race appear to have a greater impact on male academic achievement than just gender, PBS reported. The rate of university enrolments among middle class whites, for instance, was 49% for males and 51% for females - hardly a cause for concern.
However, among low income groups and ethnic minorities the gap is huge. Clearly boys brought up in these environments or communities are not overcoming barriers to achievement at the same rate as girls. There is even affirmative action for boys taking place.
None of this undoes what Paul Baker had to say in the Herald yesterday, especially as most low-income children rely on state co-ed education. However, I would like to see the New Zealand statistics broken down by other factors than just gender. It is a complex problem, and we need to look at all the angles.
posted by Rob O'Neill at 1:01 PM
2 Comments:
We have four children three girls and a boy.
Now it became apparent to us that our son was not happy at his Co-ed school and we moved him. This has turned out to be a very good move.
There are definite gender issues in education, anecdotely I have met them.
I am very curious as to how deep they go.
It does seem to me they are being swept under the carpet.
I posted this yesterday at Sir Humphrey's
Yup, saw that Andrei. My daughter went to an all girl public school in Aus. The public system over there gets a lot of stick as well, but the single sex schools fairly consistently outpoint the co-eds.
They also have an elite stream of public schools that does even better than most private schools. Fort St High in Sydney's inner west is a standout.
Unfortunately when you do that you also tend to ghettoise the remainder.
I went to a state co-ed and have no regrets, but times have changed a lot since then.
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