The last time I looked feminist studies in universities was no where near the level of influence that many have accorded it.
If anything the liberal arts education in universities (for which we can include feminist studies) has been greatly diminished in university curricula across the nation. Feminist academics, along with historians, anthropologists and those that teaching the classics have all found themselves on the scrap heap. Why? Well they are usually Leftists aren’t they and we can't have these elites controlling public debate. If our boys are finding it difficult in competing in a schooling system too focused on scores etcetera then they won't find any solace in knowing that the university education that awaits them is fast becoming just as meaningless. In other words we underestimate the intellectual and emotional needs of our boys. Not all of them want to read technology or factual texts.
So let’s also examine this phenomenon as a kind of silent protest movement about the often ridiculous career destinies that are laid out before them too early – rather than a learning disability

If the education system was an industrial environment where an area of operation had gone backwards and remained that way for many years, then heads would roll, and that is a fact of life within industry.

But we are seeing boys education standards gradually going backwards, but nothing much has been done, and many education feminists in particular seem to have a “ I couldn’t care less” attitude. That attitude would not be good enough in industry, and anyone who had such an attitude regards anything wouldn’t last more than one year.

I think separate classes for boys and girls so new styles of educating boys and girls can be developed, and any teacher with a lazy attitude towards anything is quickly shifted out the door.

Wandii,

I wasn't suggesting all boys want to read factual texts. What I was suggesting is that if most children struggling with literacy acquisition are boys, then you would think the 'specialists' would be able to identify why it is mostly boys are failing in literacy and develop strategies to help them.

Factual texts and technology do play a role. Girls tend to read because they enjoy reading (and a good story) while boys tend to read because it has some information they're interested in.

Boys also tend to enjoy technology. Lots of boys say they don't like reading but if you put them on a PC they'll be reading all day without even knowing it. On average you'd get more girls who say they enjoy reading and less who say they enjoy computers.

As for university - I did first year English at UNSW. On one occasion we studied Macbeth. We had a one hour tutorial and all our tutor could think about was the line "Get thee to a nunnery". At the end of the tutorial, after denouncing Shakespeare for all sorts of crimes against feminist ideology, the ten women in the class turned to me and the other MM in the room, as if to say, what have you got to say for yourselves. Of course, we didn't say anything; or continue on to second year. So for any boys thinking of entering uni I'd suggest staying well away from politically correct courses like English. (unless of course, you're the type that likes to take out a birch branch every now and then and give yourself a good beating....)

May those courses rest in peace.

Its all about our level of understanding and connection with our children and what is the final aim intended.

If the 'boys' or more accurately 'our sons' are deteriorating educationally without a definite address in a Education system (which means to find effective ways to educate i.e. impart knowledge) then its the system that is failing and if its mostly female teachers that are trying to impart this knowledge then they are a failure to our sons, unless someone else can make a more accurate general deduction and any emotive attackers who want to see the current situation continue please feel free to rant.

As any common man should know that first find out why then what to do then do what it takes And any common good man wants is to see our sons smile with the knowledge they have learned and look forward to going back to where they are learning it.

If this is not happening and they don't want to go to school then they are telling us something very important and amiss about schools thats failing our sons and anyone blaming our sons for this range from reasons that could be hiding their failure to gender based intended acts.

So if the current 'schools' are failing then it is just a matter of natural progression that private institutions are going to develop to cater for our sons and I expect that they will have to fight severe government resistance to succeed but if thats is what needs to be done then that is what we will have to do.

Sam

Chistina Sommers book "The War Against Boys" should be read by all. Although it is set in the US the same Femanist ideologies are evidently at work in Australian schools. Boys are failing because of gender discrimination. This has come about as a result of social engineering policies pursued by ideologues within all social services. especially education.

Of course there is research into what boys really think -and they tell all about their feelings of discrimination.

Howard was correct when he stated that hordes of parents are opting for private schooling, or better still - home schooling, to engage their children with education based on traditional values.

The public school system is a gender separatist war zone.

Feminists are the reasons boys are failing at school? Bit of a buck pass, if you ask me. As I understand it, most girls have always out-performed most boys, ever since we decided to allow girls to get an education, boys tend to be more extreme, disproportionally represented at the very top and at the very bottom. Until the second wave of feminism we didn't bother about girls outperforming boys, because we didn't take their education or career prospects seriously. I can't tell you the number of girls I went to school with (including my now sister-in-law) who were forced to leave school after School Certificate while their less academically inclined brothers were forced to stay. Feminists changed that and a damn good thing to. Feminists are concerned primarily with the position of women, they don't claim to be anything else. It's like asking black activists to worry about what their positive programs are doing to white kids, not the point. If you (male or female) are worried about boys and their position in society, take a leaf out of Peter West's book, get out and change it, don't stand around saying it ain't fair, feminists favour girls. What they hell do you expect? That's why they're called feminists.