Education Experts on Gender Gap

What is your vision for your son? Where do you want him to be when he is 20 and 30 years old? Knowing where you want him to be is essential to knowing what you need to do to get him there.

There is no substitute for actively engaged parenting. Boys do not raise themselves; neglect is not parenting. Sons require the same step-by-step guidance (time, communication and action) that we give our daughters. And they - both sons and daughters - need the active involvement of their fathers. A growing share of American children are living without fathers present in the home, and sometimes even those fathers at home do not spend the time their sons and daughters need to learn life's lessons. For more information on fatherhood go here.

The public schools have demonstrated for at least 40 years that they can raise the aspirations, performance and educational attainment for girls. But they have not done the same for boys.

I suspect part of the problem is in the way teachers are prepared to teach while in college, which is to treat each child as an individual. When I have asked education majors about what they are taught about differences in the learning styles between boys and girls, I always get the same response: blank stare, five second pause, then "nothing at all." Any human mother on this planet knows from birth that their sons and daughters are very different kinds of people. These differences appear in language development, activity levels, social maturity, physical dexterity, interests and other traits.

While these differences do not divide perfectly along gender lines, they should direct us toward appropriate and different gender-related pedagogies. This is what is behind the single-sex education movement now underway in the U.S.

While the AAUW study does not specifically address the questions you raise, these issues are vital for all families - regardless of the gender of their children. As I said in the broadcast, key elements of a high-quality education for all children include having a manageable class size, qualified and engaged teachers, and adequate classroom resources. Schools and classrooms should create a safe and healthy learning environment, where both teachers and students model positive attitudes, active participation and high achievement.

As a parent, you have a key role in your child's success in school. Becoming involved in school-based activities, maintaining a dialogue with your child's teachers, reinforcing school lessons by showing interest in them at home, supervising homework, and generally encouraging and supporting your child's academic progress are well-known keys to maximizing the educational experience.

From a broader perspective, you can help ensure that our nation's resources are fully mobilized to develop and sustain high-quality education by advocating for change and exercising your voting power. We have the financial capacity to provide for the needs of all students but, as AAUW's Where the Girls Are research clearly shows, there is a widening educational divide along family income lines. Please raise your voice with AAUW to demand that our public servants target resources to the schools and students who need the most help.