(no subject)

From: Deborah Mulligan (dlmul0@rangevilss.qld.edu.au)
Date: Thu Dec 14 2000 - 14:53:20 EST


Subject: [EDEQUITY Male Dialogue] Australia father & Son

G'Day All:

I am very late entering this discussion group as I have only just this
morning received the emails (it's the 14th here), so forgive me if I am not
quite up to speed with all of the previous comments.

Craig-

Thank you for your positive feedback about my program. Yes, I absolutely
agree with you regarding boys' poor performance in the acquisition of
literacy skills. The frightening thing is that testing here in Australia
reveals the fact that they are also losing it in the subject areas in which
they used to excel ie maths. I personally would like to see a bit of
equity in all subjects with boys and girls achieving highly. Utopia...

I endorse my program and urge all educators to try it - and you don't even
have to buy a book to find out how to do it! It's as easy as what was
described in me opening statement.

Boys and men are lost. Many men have negative memories of their primary
years and are therefore lost when it comes to helping their sons deal with
primary school. But I have found that despite these negative memories, they
are indeed desperate to be a part of their children's formative Ed. years.
When I first had the idea of the father/son/daughter days I called a public
meeting to suss out interest. Instead of having the meeting at school (the
memories thing) I had it at the local golf club- non threatening
environment (suggested by a dad from my class). The response was
overwhelming. Men are eager and we as Ed. just have to show them the way
and allow them to participate in their children's Ed. A radical but
exciting, concept for many of them.

I too, have read the Gilberts. I don't agree with their slating of Biddulf
and Moir & Jessel but nor do I wholeheartedly with Biddulf's hormone idea.
I try to follow the middle ground and give credence to both sides of the
'nature/ nurture' debate.

I have attended a Martino presentation. His work is insightful and gets to
the crux of what is happening with our boys in high school vis a vis
literacy.

Story time.... Trent, a boy I taught 13 years ago in year 6 and then again
in year 7, visits me twice a year. He is now 23. When he was in about year
9 (14 years old), he commented one day that unless a boy makes a connection
with a teacher in primary school and has a really positive experience in
that class, he is lost for the rest of his formal school years.
Interesting...

As a classroom teacher, I am increasing frustrated at the lack of attention
paid to our boys' learning needs. Our boys are not girls (thank God) and
should not be treated as such. We should celebrate the gender differences
not ignore them.

My sermon ends...

All the best

Debbie



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