Boys Education

Ask any teacher and they will say that boys are challenging to teach. With this in mind, Aranmore's Boys Education committee has been working to create the best possible educational outcomes for boys at the College. The Committee is very active, organising seminars, papers, news articles and meetings for staff and parents. The College's Stepping Out program contributes significantly towards lifting the levels amongst the College's boys, and students in general.

Former Chair of the Boys Education committee Dr Fabre answers some questions about Boys Education below.

Are some boys struggling in the current educational environment?
Some are. These are the boys who want to do physically hard things, in groups, for the sheer exhiliration of it. Few schools have programmes to address their needs to do physically demanding activities.

What challenges do teachers face when they teach boys?
It is difficult to work with boys. They are very energetic and they often struggle to communicate well. They express emotions physically and identify themselves as members of a group, not as individuals.

How do boys learn differently from girls?
Boys learn in groups, doing challenging tasks in a disciplined environment. This often needs the presence of older, committed males.
Testosterone inhibits the left-hand side of the brain, which is responsible for langauge and reflection. Boys aged from 10 to 14 experience an up to 800 % increase in testosterone. Also, the bridge between their two brain hemispheres is smaller than in girls, making 'multi-tasking' hard for boys.

How does Aranmore's Physical Presence Program benefit boys?
It builds confidence and skills in tackling for sport. It provides a subject around which boys can use their strength, for the contest and tactics.

The Physical Presence Program works for girls as well, but without requiring boys to be 'feminised' or their testosterone neutralised.

What suggestions do you have for parenting boys?
Parents should be clear about the model of masculinity that they practice. There are many types of male role models, often conflicting, which reflect historic, political, economic, cultural and religious interests. Be clear about what is driving yours.

If boys in education and life are to be enhanced at home, then one model of masculinity to consider is that traditional to Catholic schooling that 'true manhood' is to be achieved by a "self-giving love".