Helping Boys Succeed in School

Many parents and educators today are worried about the education of smart girls, especially in areas like math and science, but what about their male counterparts? According to a U.S. Census Bureau report (2004), 12% of boys drop out of high school, compared to 9% of girls. In addition, the current trend sees more girls enrolling in college than boys. Boys need to be given the tools they need to succeed in school, including strategies for channeling their interests, keeping them actively engaged, increasing their participation in humanities classes like language arts, and dealing with the unique social and emotional problems they face in school. The authors, national education leaders, combine field-tested strategies and advice with case studies of boys across the nation to give smart young boys and their parents a strong guide for ensuring boys' success in school and the future.