On Point | Podcast Falling Behind: Do we treat boys like malfunctioning girls?
Aug 25, 2025
In this discussion, Richard Reeves, President of the American Institute for Boys and Men, and Richard Hawley, founding president of the International Boys' School Coalition, dive deep into the educational challenges boys face. They highlight a concerning trend: boys lagging behind girls academically as early as age eight. The need for movement and interactive learning is stressed, revealing how traditional classrooms may not serve boys effectively. They advocate for educational reforms and innovative teaching methods to better engage boys and support their emotional development.
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Boys Prefer Play Over Classroom Routine
- Parents describe young boys who prefer recess, PE, and play over classroom tasks and often call school "boring."
- These stories illustrate early disengagement that parents across states are witnessing with primary-age boys.
Early Academic Gaps Predict Later Outcomes
- Test-score datasets show girls outperform boys in reading across almost all districts while math gaps vary by income.
- The K–12 gender gap compounds into college and labor-market disparities for men.
Rigid Classroom Control Meets Real Boys
- A kindergarten boy walked out of a circle lesson because he was bored and couldn't sit still.
- Volunteer Dionne Bird recounts how rigid body-control rules are unrealistic for young boys.
