Peter: A lesson in advocacy

G’day. You’d be aware that I’ve been seeking listener’s humble heroes. Peter has written in

Dear Dr John

I know you’ve been after our heroes but I want to talk to you about why we’re not likely to get many of today’s teenage boys showing up as humble heroes now or in the future. In education and society we’ve been so rightly hell bent on making sure that girls are not disadvantaged, and have equal opportunity in education and in the workforce, that maybe we’ve assumed that boys are doing OK, not so.

“As a high school teacher I’ve been grappling with the issue of boys attitudes to education for ages. It’s so hard when so often the boys in my classes not only have a different agenda, it’s often opposed to that of the teacher. Some years ago I read a book “Boys in Schools” edited by Rollo Browne and Richard Fletcher. I was particularly inspired by an article therein by Sue Langker, a Media teacher. She had had so much trouble with boys that she had to take stress leave. Whilst on leave she attended a conference on boys in education and was confronted with the following statistics on gender involvement in school activities:

* Young Achievers Australia scheme (90% female)

* Fundraising for charities (80% female)

* Mock Trial representative team ( 90% female)

* College Debating team (100% female)

* Public speaking competitions (100% female)

* School choir (90% female)

* use of library in lunch hours (70% female)

* School ceremonies - Anzac, Graduation etc (60% female)

* Creative and Performing arts festival (70% female)

* Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme ( 80% female)

* Exchange programs (80% female)

* Part-time work (70% female)

Since Sue Langker returned to school, she says she has implemented a whole different approach with the boys so that they’re not just sitting on the sideline in their own education and expending their energies (and lives) getting their highs outside school. Sue and the class brainstormed what they thought was wrong with education. As a result the English tasks became more practical and applied - composing magazine articles, preparing ads, getting the guys to use social media platforms etc.

Langker concludes that the secret is in working with the boys, not against them. As she says, as long as we treat boys like the aliens in education we’ll continue to see them act that way.

Dr John, unless we do something substantial very soon, high school education will be single sexed even if it’s a co-education school!”

Peter, I’m sure man y of the boys in your classes have benefited and felt more affirmed by the stance you’ve taken so if you don’t mind, on behalf of thos marginalized boys I hereby salute you as one of our Humble Heroes.

Chances are you have boys in your family – do Peter’s observations ring true your way and if so what are you doing about it? No-one goes to school to learn that they don’t belong!