Argument Essay
Boys and Education
When looking at the educational system, certain things come up that influence children doing well in school. The influence that schools have on children who are being bullied and their behavior while in school are just a couple things that affect boy’s academics. A boy’s ability to succeed in school can be affected significantly by bullying from their fellow peers, behavior in school, and sports; here we will discuss how these topics have affected boys with in the school system.
According to a survey by the National Institute of Health, 2006, “bullying occurs most frequently in grades sixth through eighth grade” (1); however, bullying does occur in all grades of the school system. The bullying is primarily done by boys and boys are the ones who are most frequently the recipient of being bullied. Not only does bullying affect the self-esteem of the child, the child is at higher risk for depression, and tends to be more likely to become involved in criminal behavior,. Children who are bullied have a higher absentee rate, and the child suffers academically in the school system. The child can become so worried about being bullied they may become physically sick and want to avoid school altogether just to avoid an encounter with the bully.
Ceil Than, author of “Children Have the Right to Be Protected from Bullying” states, that “not only must parents be involved in their children’s education the school systems must all have uniform and effective policies for dealing with and preventing bullying” (3). Students have to know that if they are being bullied by someone in the school they can report the bullying to the teacher or administration and there will be action taken to prevent this from happening again. All teachers, administrators and students must not tolerate bullying of any kind whether it is verbal, written, or physical. Bullying, discrimination and harassment should be dealt with strict disciplinary action.
Behavior of students, primarily boys, affects their ability to excel in school. Many boys find learning very dull in school and become unconcerned with their own progress. Most boys are very competitive and energetic which at times can cause them to be socially insufficient. Everyone has their own views about how boys should act and behave in school. Teachers expect students no matter the gender to pay attention in class and do as asked with any circumstance. Gerry Garibaldi, author of “How the schools shortchange Boys” states, when boys are told to perform a specific task by the teacher they want to know why the task is being assigned, and girls on the other hand will immediately open their book and address the assignment (442). The teachers sometimes take boys reluctance as insubordination and will send the student to the principal’s office. Garibaldi also states, that after several repeated times in the principal’s office, the school starts to question whether the student may have any learning disabilities (442); which means that when the student acts up in class the teachers begin to treat them more sternly which will often times result in boys acting act more and them getting tested for learning disabilities. When the school starts testing for learning disabilities it often times results in the school testing for Special Education. Michael Kimmel, author of “A War Against Boys” states, in the “1950’s, rambunctious boys were simply not tolerated in; they dropped out” (449), in other words, schools now days let boys get away with a lot and assume that the troubled boy has a learning disability.
Sports have always had an impact on boys when it comes to their academics. Schools have integrated sports into their curriculum to help with the activeness of boy’s behavior, and it has continued all the way into colleges with the fraternities and sororities. In some cases sports may be the only thing attracting some kids to a school. Mary Tudors, author of “Sports Should Not Be the Main Focus in High School” states, “Students often bank on sports to carry them past other disadvantages like poverty or poor study habits” (2). Some teachers will even go as far as to change a student’s grades just to bring them up to academic standards just so they can continue to play sports. Due to a boys lack of focus their focal point tends to be on the wrong things, for example, sports instead of their academics and in turn when their sports career fails them they have nothing as a backup. When in high school children can be very naive, so much that they don’t have realistic expectations of their own futures.
In conclusion, there are several things that can affect a boy’s ability to succeed in school. Bullying of their fellow peers, behavior while in school, and sports all affect a boys overall education. I believe that these three points affect them on a daily basis.
Work cited
Garibaldi, Gerry. “How the schools shortchange Boys.” The Longman Writer. City Journal.
2006. 441 – 445 Print
Kimmel, Michael. “A War Against Boys?” The Longman writer. Dissent Magazine. 2006.
447– 451 Print
National Institute of Health. (2006). Bullying widespread in U.S. schools, survey finds.
31 Oct 2012
Tedrow, Mary. “Sports Should Not Be the Main Focus in High School.” Can Busy Teens
Succeed Academically? Ed. Stephen Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. At Issue. Rpt
from “High School Sports: Who’s the Real Loser?” Teacher Magazine (20 Mar. 2007). Gale
Opposing Viewpoints In context. Web. 30 Oct. 2012
Than, Ceil. “Children Have the Right to Be Protected from Bullying.” Do Chilldren Have
Rights? Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from “Wanna Fight?’ Bullies and
Their Victims Disarmed.” HOTLINE 29 (spring 2008): 1-3 Gale Opposing Viewpoints In
Context. Web. 30 Oct 2012
When looking at the educational system, certain things come up that influence children doing well in school. The influence that schools have on children who are being bullied and their behavior while in school are just a couple things that affect boy’s academics. A boy’s ability to succeed in school can be affected significantly by bullying from their fellow peers, behavior in school, and sports; here we will discuss how these topics have affected boys with in the school system.
According to a survey by the National Institute of Health, 2006, “bullying occurs most frequently in grades sixth through eighth grade” (1); however, bullying does occur in all grades of the school system. The bullying is primarily done by boys and boys are the ones who are most frequently the recipient of being bullied. Not only does bullying affect the self-esteem of the child, the child is at higher risk for depression, and tends to be more likely to become involved in criminal behavior,. Children who are bullied have a higher absentee rate, and the child suffers academically in the school system. The child can become so worried about being bullied they may become physically sick and want to avoid school altogether just to avoid an encounter with the bully.
Ceil Than, author of “Children Have the Right to Be Protected from Bullying” states, that “not only must parents be involved in their children’s education the school systems must all have uniform and effective policies for dealing with and preventing bullying” (3). Students have to know that if they are being bullied by someone in the school they can report the bullying to the teacher or administration and there will be action taken to prevent this from happening again. All teachers, administrators and students must not tolerate bullying of any kind whether it is verbal, written, or physical. Bullying, discrimination and harassment should be dealt with strict disciplinary action.
Behavior of students, primarily boys, affects their ability to excel in school. Many boys find learning very dull in school and become unconcerned with their own progress. Most boys are very competitive and energetic which at times can cause them to be socially insufficient. Everyone has their own views about how boys should act and behave in school. Teachers expect students no matter the gender to pay attention in class and do as asked with any circumstance. Gerry Garibaldi, author of “How the schools shortchange Boys” states, when boys are told to perform a specific task by the teacher they want to know why the task is being assigned, and girls on the other hand will immediately open their book and address the assignment (442). The teachers sometimes take boys reluctance as insubordination and will send the student to the principal’s office. Garibaldi also states, that after several repeated times in the principal’s office, the school starts to question whether the student may have any learning disabilities (442); which means that when the student acts up in class the teachers begin to treat them more sternly which will often times result in boys acting act more and them getting tested for learning disabilities. When the school starts testing for learning disabilities it often times results in the school testing for Special Education. Michael Kimmel, author of “A War Against Boys” states, in the “1950’s, rambunctious boys were simply not tolerated in; they dropped out” (449), in other words, schools now days let boys get away with a lot and assume that the troubled boy has a learning disability.
Sports have always had an impact on boys when it comes to their academics. Schools have integrated sports into their curriculum to help with the activeness of boy’s behavior, and it has continued all the way into colleges with the fraternities and sororities. In some cases sports may be the only thing attracting some kids to a school. Mary Tudors, author of “Sports Should Not Be the Main Focus in High School” states, “Students often bank on sports to carry them past other disadvantages like poverty or poor study habits” (2). Some teachers will even go as far as to change a student’s grades just to bring them up to academic standards just so they can continue to play sports. Due to a boys lack of focus their focal point tends to be on the wrong things, for example, sports instead of their academics and in turn when their sports career fails them they have nothing as a backup. When in high school children can be very naive, so much that they don’t have realistic expectations of their own futures.
In conclusion, there are several things that can affect a boy’s ability to succeed in school. Bullying of their fellow peers, behavior while in school, and sports all affect a boys overall education. I believe that these three points affect them on a daily basis.
Work cited
Garibaldi, Gerry. “How the schools shortchange Boys.” The Longman Writer. City Journal.
2006. 441 – 445 Print
Kimmel, Michael. “A War Against Boys?” The Longman writer. Dissent Magazine. 2006.
447– 451 Print
National Institute of Health. (2006). Bullying widespread in U.S. schools, survey finds.
31 Oct 2012
Tedrow, Mary. “Sports Should Not Be the Main Focus in High School.” Can Busy Teens
Succeed Academically? Ed. Stephen Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. At Issue. Rpt
from “High School Sports: Who’s the Real Loser?” Teacher Magazine (20 Mar. 2007). Gale
Opposing Viewpoints In context. Web. 30 Oct. 2012
Than, Ceil. “Children Have the Right to Be Protected from Bullying.” Do Chilldren Have
Rights? Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from “Wanna Fight?’ Bullies and
Their Victims Disarmed.” HOTLINE 29 (spring 2008): 1-3 Gale Opposing Viewpoints In
Context. Web. 30 Oct 2012