Comments on: Boys and education

By: Hans Laven

Hans Laven — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:47:36 +0000

It’s worth hearing an excellent interview this morning on National Radio with Leonard Sax, educational
psychologist, about gender differences and the extent to which boys are being short-changed in the education system.

This link will expire in a week but if people want to hear the interview after that I have a copy. Email me at hans@xnet.co.nz

By: Brendon Smith

Brendon Smith — Thu, 01 May 2008 04:10:14 +0000

Hmmmnn,
there has been two conferences on Boys In Education, plus there is another at Massey Auckland this year…

Successful boys: Meeting the challenge
When: 7, 8 & 9 July
Where: Sir Neil Waters Lecture Theatres Building,
Auckland Campus,
Massey University

Keynote speakers:
John Cowan
Maggie Hamilton
Michael Irwin
Dr. Ros Mc Lellan
Dr. Stuart Middleton
Tim O’Connor
Sully Paea
Conference Registration Fees $485; Earlybird - $435 by 30 March 2008
Draft Programme Boys Conference 08 - Draft Programme
For more information, contact:
Michael Irwins
Phone: 0064 - 9 - 414 0800 extn 9635
Email: m.r.irwin@massey.ac.nz

Plus, in the archives soon at http://www.fatherandchild.net.nz, our recent article on how overseas efforts have made a difference, but here in NZ, nothing is done…

By: xsryder

xsryder — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:35:06 +0000

Hi Julie,
Yes, education is becoming a major problem for boys, but in reality it is just part of a wider picture. Consider the health of males;
First Men’s Health Meeting
The first meeting on men’s Health was recently held in Wellington by Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor. View press release at
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0804/S00561.htm

Before men and fathers get excited and start considering such questions as; will men now finally get a Ministry of Men’s Affairs?, one needs to read the press release.
It seems that there will be few changes if any, and a conference under the guise of ‘Men’s Health’ ended up being a conference on ‘the Impact of Men’s Health on wives and partners’.
“There’s a need for a more comprehensive and inclusive discussion around men’s health issues and how they affect wives and partners, wider family groups and society as a whole,” said Mr O’Connor.
The Families Commission has no interest in the role or health of fathers in the family, even though fathers are integral to families; the Children’s Commission has no interest in the role or health of fathers in the lives of children, even though children are worse off without fathers; and the Associate Minister of Health seems more concerned about impacts on wives, partners and the wider community, than the actual health of men and fathers.

I wonder if any person or party taking part in the talks raised the issue of why there is a Ministry of Women’s Affairs but no Ministry of Men’s Affairs, and how a Ministry of Men’s Affairs would help “engagement and collaboration between men’s health groups and government”, as O’Connor suggests annual talks will achieve.
O’Connor goes on to say “The focus for the medium to long term is on seeing disparities reducing”, yet the most glaringly obvious “disparity” lies in the Governments refusal to match it’s support for women by introducing a Ministry of Men’s Affairs. Hello……