<p>I think I read somewhere that there are more boys at the very top and at the very bottom for SAT scores than girls. Also, although there may be more girls in the top 10%, I read that there is a preponderance of boys among valedictorians. There was even an article in our local newspaper where they went around to various high schools and found out how many boy and girl valedictorians there were in recent years, and many more were boys.</p>
<p>When my boys were younger, I would always look at the Honor Roll lists in the local paper and notice that they were overwhelmingly female. So, we decided to send them to an all-boys school. This has been an interesting experiment really. The school has mostly male teachers. It is a place where, as a boy, it is OK to be smart and not just a jock (although there are plenty of jocks too). Because it is SO male dominated it is really neat to see that a different sort of teaching goes on there. The thing I notice the most is the lack of "fluff." There are no pretty bulletin boards, the classrooms are almost stark they are so business oriented, very few "projects" that require craft ability, and more frequent breaks in the day to work off all that energy and grab a snack (they actually have a 15 minute recess in the morning!) - and yes the school can be a little messy (ties and papers hanging out of lockers etc.) . It is not very mother oriented - which has encouraged my boys to deal with their own issues at school. The academic expectations are very high (except, perhaps for handwriting!), I suppose because it is Jesuit school. And, surprisingly the boys are a little more willing to participate in activites that call for reflection, or singing, or public speaking (things that I think boys can be intimidated to do in front of the often more mature girls). I would not say that single sex education is for everyone - but I think it has been a gift for us. I believe my boys have been able to really come to appreciate and understand their own masculinity and they have received a wonderful education. After having only female teachers from K through 6th grade (many who did not appreciate the boys in the class if you know what I mean), I figure this sort of evens things out.</p>
<p>Weenie, thanks for sharing your boys' experiences. We thought about an all-boys school for my son but he wanted to go to his sister's co-ed high school. I think he would have thrived in the environment you describe.</p>
<p>Having my son play freshman football was a real eye-opener for me this fall. He was never the jock-type, more of the nerdy-type - or at least that's how we pegged him. We thought he would drop out after the first week and I cringed when I saw all of the male-bonding going on and the way the coaches talked to the boys (they didn't yell, but there was no warm and fuzzy cheering either like I remembered from my daughter's elementary school soccer team.) The amazing thing is my son loved the entire experience - loved the sense of comraderie, loved the level of committment and hard work demanded by the coaches, loved the discipline, loved the way the coaches treated the boys. He is actually bereft that it is over, and is planning on going out for JV next year. It isn't the game he misses, it's the practices, the coaches, his team mates, and everything else that went with it. I never would have thought that my son would have thrived in this kind of world, which has made me realize that maybe some boys do need a different type of challenge/experience than girls do.</p>
<p>C--Watch and see. There is HUGE social status in being on the football team, even at posh academic schools. </p>
<p>Weenie--Had to laugh. At their all-boys school, my boys take a 15 minute 'tea' break in the morning. Twice a week they have 90 minute lunch breaks which usually break into pick-up basketball or cricket games. Sports are compulsory. The drama department is thriving with boys from every sector as is the choir. They put on a huge Les Mis this year.</p>
<p>Boys tell me that the all-school singing in the chapel (630 boys in a tiny 150 year old chapel) makes their hair stand on end--but only when there are no visitors allowed--which is every weekday chapel.</p>
<p>Cheers, Son is definitely already enjoying the football social status bit. The problem is that Mom is having a hard time adjusting to the thought of having a football player as a son. Brings back all sorts of dreadful memories from my own high school days. Guess this is just one more stereotype that I'll have to get over, or maybe I'll just have to beat him into submission if he starts fitting the stereotype a little TOO closely. LOL! :)</p>
<p>Sucking up and brown nosing is "what girls do?" Art projects are a result of female teachers? God, could you people be any more stone aged? </p>
<p>My teachers loved me, but it was because I argued with them constantly. My senior year of HS I used to knit in class because I just didn't care. I couldn't suck up if my life depended on it, which is why I'm having a hell of a time finding an internship.</p>
<p>in my one class, i am the only girl. there's 11 kids total. guess it just turned out weird :) most of my other classes are about a 50/50 split.. i think my school is 55 percent girl 45 percent boy.. something similar to that.. but it's a LAC.. and we don't have a football team, so i'm sure that turns a lot of guys away :)</p>
<p>Fendergirl, not to mention potential cheerleader types. :)</p>
<p>A friends son found that by applying to LAC that had a large gender gap he received large offers of merit aid for being a male. He is now finishing up his senior year at a east coast college. They are positive that senior in high school D while applying to many of the same schools might get offers of admission but will not get the merit aid offers her brother got. Even though they are similar in stats.</p>