<p>The desire to learn and perform well in school starts at an early age and depends on the example set by parents. Children learn a great deal from both parents, but when it comes to role models, girls look more to their mothers than to their fathers and boys look more to their fathers than to their mothers (over the course of their childhoods). The prevalence of single parent families means a prevalence of families run by women. This means that girls are more likely to have a strong and continuous role model throughout their lives, but boys will not have a similar example. If a father tells his son to pay attention in school, study hard and complete homework, it has a greater impact on the son than if his mother says the same thing. The absence of fathers in many homes means the message to do well in school is weakened for boys. The result of this is a disparity in male/female ratios in college. (I realize their are numerous exceptions of boys from single female parent families who have done well; e.g. Pres. Clinton. What I am talking about is large groups of people in our society as a whole.)</p>