Who is Getting a Better Education? Boys vs. Girls

In chapter three McNergney talks about gender differences in the classroom. She talks about how girls develop better reading and writing skills and boys develop better math and self esteem skills. there are many different opinions on if this is an inborn trait or is it is something that is learned. i have found two opposing quotes, McNergney states "often subconsciously, some teachers tend to offer classroom activities that appeal more to boys' interests than to girls' and to use instructional methods that favor boys" (McNergney 49). The opposing quote comes from christine Skelton "it has been argued by some commemtators that a contributory factor to boys' under achievement is the predominance of woman teachers in primary schools which has led to classroom managment and teaching styles that favor girls "(Skelton 1). This is true that elementary teachers are predomintly woman so they could teach in a way that makes the most sense to them, but i believe many teachers try to incorporate more things into their eduction in favor of boys because they realise they need to also focus on their learning styles. I think it really depends on the teacher and how well the teacher can harmonize the two teaching styles. i have had one experiance where boys were much greater favored in the class then girls but this does not sway my opinion that it is an issue of the teacher knowing how to properly handle two different learning styles.

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