Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/guest-editorial-are-we-shortchanging-boys/5007948/
As a very active male child growing up in the beautiful border country of England and Wales, I enjoyed damming up swift streams, climbing the rocks of nearby Titterstone Clee Hill, and searching for wild flowers. I loved soccer, caring for my vegetables, and building complex water systems to divert the water from our constant rainfalls. I disliked school - except woodwork, art, and folk dancing. I did not really take to math, reading, and writing until I was 14. Luckily, I attended a religious school that did not pressure me to succeed academically, or to be on the same level as other students. And the open spaces of our farm allowed me to run, climb, and explore.I now have a very bright, active seven year old son who is fascinated with art, animals, soccer, and games. But he's not reading yet, and he finds other academic subjects frustrating. Two of my brothers have very active boys - one is on Ritalin; the others are active participants in their Welsh schools.
As a Head Start director, my role is to intervene with problem children and to provide training on classroom discipline. Invariably, the children ...