Struggling School-Age Boys

The problem is not with the "Damn liberals" or "feminists" as some of these comments have stated. Hands on classes such as wood shop etc have been canceled due to lack of funding and time limits from trying to teach kids more and teaching to a test. I can guarantee you that feminists have not been conspiring to get rid of hands on classes. They have been trying to give girls the equal opportunity to learn those skills if they desire. Our kids are messed up today because we start expecting them to follow an adults time schedule by the time they are 12, assigning so much home work that they have no free time after school, and not allowing them to act like children. The hands off policy of many school now days (no tag, no hugging, and no games of any kind where children may accidently come in contact with one another) may also have a huge role. Children are no longer learning how to interact with each other so of course they are going to have mental problems.

I have an eight year old child who was recently diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (NOS) For the past three years he was misdiagnosed 2 times. He also suffers from the same issues mentioned in this article. I do work however I try to keep his schedule fairly relaxed so he has time to play with his friends and just be a kid. Society sure has changed since I was 8. We used to be able to do family vacations in the summer and really spend family time. Now it seems as if the cost of living has made it almost impossible to be the parents we were fortunate enough to have...well, some of us. I have three children and have had to always work. I love them all dearly and I hope what I am able to give of myself will be enough to sustain them into adulthood.

I think this is an excellent articl.e. In response to the comment that "our generation was able to
play 3 sports, do their homework, and work", I too came from that generation. Unfortunatley, school and
sports have changed a great deal. For example, if a boy wanted to participate in football, wrestling, and
baseball this would be an endeavor of epic proportion. He would need not only to practice during the
seasons but would also be expected to attend football and wrestling camp in the summer as well
as play summer baseball. Then he would be strongly encouraged to attend weight and fitness camp. He might also be involved in a wrestling club. By juniiot year most students have narrowed their sport down
to 2 sports f not one. Sometimes they burn out altogether--because many of them have been doing
an intense sport regiment since elementary school. Then their is the increasing academic demands. In
our state the high school graduation requirements have changed dramatically in the past five years.
Now, a quite difficult state competency needs to be passed., a culminating project completed and for
incoming freshman they will need to pass Algebra II (For those adept at Math this does not seem like a
big deal--foir those who struggle in math it is another mountain to climb). As a result, many students
are chosing to obtain their GED. My daughter did pass all the requirements, participated in sports, and
worked. It was at a price . Her juniot year I took her for a medical check-up because she was so tired.
I thought she was anemica or low thyroid. The diagnosis was "lack of sleep". I was appalled and we
looked for ways to cut back on her schedule.
What I find intteresting is that as the stress and pressure increases, the opportunities to blow off steam
decreases. At football games spirit signs are disallowed (because of the occasional inappropriate sign--
could they not throw them away), boys cannot be shirtless with their school colors painted on, the chant
"We got spirit, yes we do, we got spirt how about you?" is forbidden, and the school drummer was asked
to play softer. It certainly feels like a pressure cooker with no steam outlet. We do need to rethink how
teach, coach, and provide recreation for our children

A Present High-School Senior's Perspective. -If you're interested, being a present senior in highschool, this is my outlook on my past schooling. I have mild ADHD, as many of my peers do. Yet, I find that my attention span and attitude always fluctuate according to my interest level in the subject. Personally, I feel that it is simply my interest that determines my performance in class.
Many times I find myself growing tired, just as many workers do I'm sure, of the classrooms and hallways day after day. I just think to myself that "if we could just have class in a courtyard or somewhere with sunlight I would feel much better about class. Everytime I recieve college advertisments in the mail, pictures of outside classes always catch my eye and immediately give me a good impression of the school. My experience and opinion is that more classes should be nature oriented, hands-on, and potentially more physical oriented also. This would boost my interest in school greatly, and my performance following.

This is so very true. So, how can we change this society to make it more "boys friendly"? They need more free/outdoor time. They need more creative classes where things are taught with visual aides. They need to be discplined in creative and productive manner, not just being yelled at or told to go sit in the corner. Can these things be implemented in our school system someday or is it a wishful thinking?

What happens when a boy goes out on Grandpaws farm? Has anyone ever been walking down to the pond and heard his grandson say, "I wish I could be here forever.", well, I have and that's when I figured I had done something right. Men are hunter gatherers and when the enviornment matches the instincts, a boy begins to turn into a man. Go ahead and do your studies. You can make your boy a jack of all trades, but he will never master anything. All 5 of my grandchildren know how to fish and I didn't give them a fish, I gave them the pole.
Willie Nelson

Boys are different then girls. They have different body parts, act different and even learn different. So why are schools set up to encourage girls but restirct boys?
As an educator working with both sexes I can tell you the first thing people need to do is stop what they are doing and just play. I have seen many four year olds who don't have time to play, to learn, to explore. There is no curiousity in our children anymore. Our children don't need an activity every night. PLAY PLAY PLAY.

As for those with ADHD, I have seen drugs do wonder in many children which is great. I have also seen a child who is diagnosed with ADHD on medications and shouldn't be. ADHD has to be seen in all areas of your childs life. NOT JUST HOME. Too many Doctors are taking the parents words and not looking at how the child is doing at daycare, school, or other areas. If you are a parent talk to the places where your child attends and have them fill out a rating scale which you can get from your doctor or most schools have them on hand. If you find out you are just struggling wiht your child at home ask for help from nieghbors, friends, teachers or take classes. Parents are the first childs teacher. You can do it, but d on't be afraid to ask for help.

It takes a village to raise a child!

The damn liberals are ruining our kids. Especially the femanzis, who are pushing there political views on them. The schools have also stopped teaching auto mechanics, machinery, wood shop etc.. Now this study is coming out, wow, how muchy did it cost for this common sense finding, I bet the government paid millions.

The root of all these problems is overscheduling and lack of time for young boys to play and get their energy out. Too much pressure equals children who crack under it. We all need to chill out and allow our children to be children. And, yes, recess is a thing of the past. As a former teacher, I found it appalling that there wasn't scheduled time, everyday, for children to play. By nature, children are extremely active and the ever-changing world, controlled by adults, seems to think that the earlier the better for academics and learning. Students can't sit in seats all day, forced to soak up as much as possible, without ever enjoying fresh air, socialization, and the time to be a kid. We have also inundated their lives with unnecessary homework, tutoring, after school activities, etc. So, when these children get home, they don't even have time to play. When they do, it's video games. That's a whole other issue, and perhaps another reason why our children aren't learning. Let it marinate.

Comment: It was actually a very good argument. I also was an in era that students could play 3 sports,
do their homewirk and work. High school, however, is very different, as well as sports. For example, if
a bit was to particpate in football, wrestling, and baseball it would require training not jist during the season,
but all summer. He would be expected to attend football camp and wrestling camp (and perhaps particpate
in club wrestling, as well as play summer baeball. He would also be strongly encouraged to attend
weight and fitness training class during the summer. These boys (and girls as well) have been
dealing with these schedules for years. Many time by their junior year they have narrowed down to 2
sports or maybe even 1. If they are really burned out they will not participate. In addition, the academic
load is much greater. Our state routinely has new requirements for high school graduation. Now
everyone will need to pass Alegebra II in 2013 to graduate. Last year graduates had to pass
a state competency test and complete a culminating project. Some are chosing to earn their GED because
after several attempts they could not pass the state test. (It is not an easy test and favors those who
are competent at written language -(-even math problems need to be explained). My daughter, fortunatley
met all the requirements, worked and participated in sports. It was at a price. She was so tired her
juniior yer I took her to her pediatrician for a check-up.. After all the testsresuluts thediagnosis was" not
enough sleep. ". I was appalled and we really tried to think of ways to reduce her stress and schedule.

What I find most interesting is that while the pressure and stress increase --the ways to blow off steam
decrease. At football games they cannot make spirit signs (because of the occasional inappriapriate sighs-I don't know why they can't throw them in the trash),boys cannot be shirtless with their school colors painted on, the chant "WEe got spirit yes we do" is diallowed and the drummer was asked to drum softer.) High
school is pressure packed, whether you are involved in sports, dance, DECA, etc. So yes I can see why boys are at risk as well as some girls.

Sensitivity to the need for girls to blossom -- to go forth, to succeed, to flourish and not take back seat to what appeared to be smarter, more assertive, energy loaded boys... teachers actively stepped up to the plate. by ignoring the boys, let's say when they raised hand to answer, and picking a girl, hey , look what we've got. Stifled male children, depressed, melancholic, candidates for pharmaceuticals. Budding masculinity with all that implies is/has been carefully tamped down. Maybe we'll see in future women flying helicopters to high mountain tops in the thick of blizzard to rescue at the end of a dangling tether the stranded hiker who has broken his leg. In 20 degree weather. Or us women will do the same out in the wilds of storming seas to perform a similar rescue. We will rush into burning high-rise buildings, without mewling, to rescue. Rescue, rescue, rescue. The Great American Full Fledged Adult Male. It's who the suffering of the world turn to to dig their wells for water the Males of third world just cannot. Not without the sheer 'can-do' design of the Western Hemisphere Great Male. Are feminists who set this into motion happier seeing our little males despondent.? As they try to work out that they are inclined to grow into the perpetual rescuer but must work on figuring how to stifle all that is trying to blossom. One question: Why did those who disdained All-Man maleness win in stomping out the one fire so to set women/girls free?

I'm a seventeen year old now in my senior year of high school. In my past years, I have certainly noticed that in my classes, boys tend to get in trouble more often and are harder to control. This is indeed most likely due to the nature of our personalities, and this does need to be taken into account in the schools. My experience is that I often find myself longing to just have class outside in nature. I get tired of the rooms and halls in a very short period of time. I have been clinically proven to have a short attention span, but I find that my concentration usually varies with my environment and attitude.

If you want a highschool senior's oppinion, more classes should somehow take place outside in a more hands-on and interesting form. This would greatly improve my performance in school.

Its easy for everyone to see the world from "their own eyes" and say what should be done. Here is MY point of view and what I think should be done. Every child is different and there are too many reasons to suggest that "time in the country" or "fishin" is the cure all. While medication is not the answer to all problems, it IS the answer to some! Its disheartening to hear judgemental people suggest that what "children like my son" really need is "...........not medication". Until you know how we live, what we go through, and why we made the EDUCATED decision to utilize medications...you have no grounds or right to make such comments. Raising "5 kids" or "3 hyperactive kids" etc etc, is ABSOLUTELY NOT THE SAME AS raising and emotionally disturbed or behaviorally challenged child OF YOUR OWN!!
So to Peg Tyre:
WE SURE AS HECK DO NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH HELP FOR OUR SCHOOLS! We DO NOT KNOW if its lack of parental care, vaccinations, poor diet, over working and overstressing, not enough free-play, preschool too early, overscheduling, not enough "duck, duck, goose", no music, art class, gym class ETC ETC ETC.........................and UNTIL we get all that mess sorted out: WE COULD USE A LITTLE MORE HELP IN THE MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT! AND A HELL OF ALOT MORE UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS THESE BOYS AND THEIR PARENTS!