Book Review

Authors Michael Gurian and Kathy Stevens are worried about boys. According to their research, they have good reason to. Compared to girls, boys fail more in our school systems, have more serious behavior problems and learning disabilities, and are more likely to get punished and medicated for these problems.

But, make no mistake, The Minds of Boys is not at all about judging who's better -- boys or girls. It's about a growing crisis -- one that points to a massive failure within the education system -- to understand the unique learning needs of boys. The authors' concerns are rooted in their own experiences as parents who struggled with mismatches between school practices and how boys naturally learn . . . and "naturally" is the operative word here. These authors make the argument that there are basic differences between boys and girls that involve not only how they are socialized but how their brains work. For example, did you know that boys need distinct periods of rest to recharge their brains, whereas girls are better at doing this on the fly? This one little-known characteristic could help teachers understand why boys tend to periodically blank out in class and how they can avoid the usual kind of counterproductive student-teacher interaction. The book is filled with valuable and intriguing information about boys' learning attributes, from boys' attachment processes to "boy energy."

Once the authors make their case on why and how boys are different - and they are quite thorough and convincing in bringing to bear both the science and common sense on this issue - they present a comprehensive array of very practical strategies and changes for teaching boys more effectively.

One central change they call for is to re-involve the family in boys' education; and not just the parents, but relatives, extended family, and community members such as mentors, coaches, service providers, and clergy. The book includes many thoughtful suggestions on how people in the child's social network can bond and work with boys in different settings and on different tasks.

The book also looks at how teachers and parents can more effectively teach boys core school subjects: reading, writing, language arts, math, and science. The authors even make a well-considered case for including segregated instruction for boys and girls. The final part of the book tackles special issues that involve changing how we look at behavioral issues such as attention deficit, hyperactivity, low motivation, and the emotionally-sensitive boy.

Philosophically, this book may raise a few hackles, but parents who read the book seem to do a lot of "yes" nodding as they recognize their own boy's behavior being described. If you've got a boy on board, this book is a keeper.

- Caesar Pacifici, Ph.D
Format: 351-page book
Author: Michael Gurian and Kathy Stevens
Audience: Educators, couselors, and parents
Publishing Date: 2005
Publisher: Josey-Bass
Cost: $24.95
Available at SocialLearning.com