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Something scary is happening to boys today. From kindergarten to college, American boys are, on average, less resilient and less ambitious than they were a mere twenty years ago. The gender gap in college attendance and graduation rates has widened dramatically. While Emily is working hard at school and getting A's, her brother Justin is goofing off. He's more concerned about getting to the next level in his videogame than about finishing his homework. Now, Dr. Leonard Sax delves into the scientific literature and draws on more than twenty years of clinical experience to explain why boys and young men are failing in school and disengaged at home. He shows how social, cultural, and biological factors have created an environment that is literally toxic to boys. He also presents practical solutions, sharing strategies which educators have found effective in re-engaging these boys at school, as well as handy tips for parents about everything from homework, to videogames, to medication.… (more)
Sax seems to present this in an even, non-extremist way. Thus, it is far easier to respect his ideas and consider them credible. However, to avoid being called sexist, one must also apply this to girls of today. Our problem might not be video games, but I'm pretty sure that we do have one. ( )
Adult Nonfiction. A thought-provoking book for parents and educators (and anyone else who knows an unmotivated male--and most likely you do); talks about the problem of unmotivated boys/men and explores possible causes/solutions, including the results of dozens of scientific studies that suggest the negative impact of these causes. Summary: ( 1.) we should reconsider the accelerated format of kindergarten--push that reading and writing stuff back into first grade; reconsider different learning environments: more hands-on learning, healthy in-class academic competition (as a motivational tool), and even, in some cases, segregating the boys in their own classrooms. ( 2.) Limit the use of video games (esp. games that reward immoral behavior) to an hour or less a day, and make sure kids understand that family, school, and friends come first. ( 3.) Think twice before prescribing ADHD medication (duh). ( 4.) Try to limit use of PET plastic bottles (the ones we use for bottled water, soda, and baby bottles), esp. when such a bottle has been heated (extra leaching), but in any case when a young child or infant is concerned (male or female, but especially if male). Use glass containers instead. (5.) More responsible male role models.
Even if you don't fully believe all the reasons (though many of the arguments are too strong to really ignore), it's still worth reading all the things that people have written in response to the author's work. ( )
First...I am not sure you would call me an objective reviewer. I found that many of my views and practices already aligned with Dr. Sax. I have 5 boys. I am still more worried for my girl growing up in this world but through my experience I have noticed many of the things that Dr. Sax talks about that affect boys today. I feel like everything was well cited and the research was well documented. It offers good perspective for parents of boys...and Joshua Chamberlain is one of my heroes :) ( )
Something scary is happening to boys today. From kindergarten to college, American boys are, on average, less resilient and less ambitious than they were a mere twenty years ago. The gender gap in college attendance and graduation rates has widened dramatically. While Emily is working hard at school and getting A's, her brother Justin is goofing off. He's more concerned about getting to the next level in his videogame than about finishing his homework. Now, Dr. Leonard Sax delves into the scientific literature and draws on more than twenty years of clinical experience to explain why boys and young men are failing in school and disengaged at home. He shows how social, cultural, and biological factors have created an environment that is literally toxic to boys. He also presents practical solutions, sharing strategies which educators have found effective in re-engaging these boys at school, as well as handy tips for parents about everything from homework, to videogames, to medication.
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Something scary is happening to boys today. From kindergarten to college, they are less resilient and less ambitious than they were a mere twenty years ago. As for young men, it turns out the film Failure to Launch is not far from the truth. Fully one-third of men ages 22-34 are still living at home with their parents-about a 100 percent increase in the past twenty years. Boys nationwide are increasingly dropping out of school; fewer are going to college; and for the first time in American history, women are outnumbering men at undergraduate institutions three to two. Parents, teachers, and mental health professionals are worried about boys. But until now, no one has come up with good reasons for their decline-and, more important, with workable solutions to reverse this troubling trend. Now, family physician and research psychologist Dr. Leonard Sax delves into the scientific literature and draws on his vast clinical experience to propose an entirely original view of why boys and young men are failing in school and at home. He argues that a combination of social, cultural, and biological factors is creating an environment that is literally toxic to boys, ranging from environmental estrogens to the over-prescription of ADHD drugs. And he presents practical solutions-from new ways of controlling boys’ use of video games, to innovative (and workable) education reforms.
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