By Contributing Author, Janet Allison of Boys Alive!
If you’ve ever marveled at how different boys are than girls, I’d like to introduce you to someone you should know.
Meet Michael Gurian!
You may have heard that the Olympics this year were called, “The Year of the Ladies” and the legacy of Title IX was often cited as the reason. In 1972, Title IX was passed into law, requiring gender equity for boys and girls in every educational program that receives federal funding. It is best known for breaking down barriers in sports for women and girls and opening doors for them to pursue math and science studies.
Tim Wright, a colleague of Gurian’s said, “Back then, society collectively stood up and demanded change, and the government responded by investing over $100,000,000 to get the girls caught up. And it worked. The amount spent to get boys caught up? $000,000,000. (and that’s not a typo).”
Boys were off the radar of popular culture and concern. But Michael Gurian was noticing, wondering, and was the first to apply science-based research (neurobiology) to child development. He discovered some alarming trends though they were not politically correct at the time.
In fact, The Wonder of Boys was rejected by 26 publishers – they were looking for “girl books.” When it was finally published, some reviewers claimed that “boy issues just weren’t important.”
Yet Michael soon began to receive letters from moms, dads, and educators saying that boys needed as much careful attention as girls.
The Wonder of Boys became a New York Times Best-seller and the movement began. And continues.
Sixteen years later, the alarm cries grow louder and louder. (And even louder for boys of color and boys in poverty. Just this week the Schott Foundation released The Urgency of Now, stating that America’s education system neglects almost half of the nations’ black and Latino male students.)
Michael has since written 20-some more books with gender as the lens through which we view how we uniquely learn, communicate, and approach the world. The Wonder of Girls, Boys & Girls Learn Differently, and Leadership and the Sexes (for business) have expanded understanding and acceptance of the gifts of each gender.
Collectively, we’re saying, “Our boys DO need our help. We know it. We care deeply.”
Articles come out nearly every day about the struggles of boys:
American Schools Still Heavily Segregated by Race, Income
Boys and Young Men: A New Cause for Liberals
Kicking Black Boys Out of Class, Teaching Black Girls a Lesson
THE GURIAN INSTITUTE
Michael Gurian and his team of Gurian Institute Certified Trainers are changing the face of education. They’ve trained over 60,000 teachers in 2,500 school districts since 1996.
But they need YOU to be the “feet on the ground.”
Teachers are not typically taught the fundamentals of how boys and girls learn differently – and they are surprised and grateful to learn practical strategies that help boys (and girls) be successful academically and socially. (And that means boys LIKE school more and are referred for disciplinary measures less).
Discover more: Go to www.gurianinstitute.com and opt-in, and you’ll receive a Special Report: Learning About The Brain – Through a Gender Lens. The insights may surprise you!
If you are an educator or in school administration, I encourage you to look into the professional development trainings that The Gurian Institute provides nation-wide and world-wide.
FOR PARENTS: THE GURIAN PARENTING COMMUNITY
The Gurian Parenting Community was created this year as an on-line membership site where parents from around the world can access resources about parenting “through a gender lens.”
Resources include: articles, video, audio, and a once-each-month LIVE teleconference with Michael Gurian. These calls are lively and inspiring, as parents ask questions and chat with Michael and myself about their concerns.
It’s time to save our boys – just as we did our girls. It takes ALL of US – and each of us, stepping up and investing in our boys.
What are you doing in your community?
Michael Gurian said, “Boys…if nurtured properly, provide the world with indomitable spirits, humble hopes, courageous love, and unflagging energy. The fact is, masculinity, if appropriately parented, mentored, and educated, is one of life’s most nurturing and creative forces!”
I invite you to join with Michael Gurian, The Gurian Institute, and The Gurian Parenting Community and “be the change!”
Talk to your friends, your children’s teachers, your community leaders!
Join us! Add your voice to the conversation on Facebook, too!
Just as we “changed the world” for our girls – we can do the same (or better) for our boys!
About the Author: Janet Allison is Founder of Boys Alive! (www.boysalive.com) and Director of the Gurian Parenting Community (www.michaelgurian.com). She is a veteran teacher and author of Boys Alive! Bring Out Their Best! She helps parents and teachers understand gender differences and what boys need to be successful at home, in school, and life!
