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Sydney experts talk about boys' education
Boys can often be blamed for disruptive behaviour and having a bad attitude.
Some have low self-esteem, difficulty communicating with others and display
problems at school. Some boys are experiencing learning difficulties and
the literacy gap between boys and girls is increasing. So, what is the
problem facing boys and what can be done to help?
Next week, the House of Representatives Education Committee will conduct
public hearings in Sydney with a range of experts from the NSW Department
of Education and Training, university faculties of education, school
principals and Australian Hearing. Topics include the nature and extent
of boys' educational problems, how do boys' difficulties relate to broader
social and economic change, which boys are affected, why fewer males
are teaching and whether gender differences in audio processing account
for boys lagging behind girls in early literacy development.
Public Event:
- House of Representatives Education Committee The education
of boys Inquiry - Public Hearings
Where:
- Conference Room L11, 70 Phillip Street, Sydney
When:
- Monday 13 November, 9am - 4pm
- Tuesday 14 November, 9am - 5pm
The House Education Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry
into the education of boys focussing on the social, cultural and educational
factors affecting boys.
Dr Brendan Nelson, Committee Chair, said the challenges surrounding
the education of boys need to be brought out into the open and discussed
as frankly as possible.
"The Committee, through this inquiry, wants to understand the problems
and look at what may be done in early to middle schooling that can help
and benefit boys," Dr Nelson said. "We need to understand how broader
social and economic changes might be affecting boys' attitudes to literacy
and learning, why there are declining numbers of male primary teachers
and whether this is also a factor. Also, there may be physiological
gender differences in audio processing which affect the acquisition
of literacy skills and learning and, if there are, this needs to be
widely understood by parents and teachers."
For more details on the Sydney public hearings, as well as background
information on the inquiry, visit: www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/eewr
For media comment contact Dr Brendan Nelson MP, Chair of the
House Education Committee, on 0418 123 438 or 02 94164044
For background information contact the Committee Secretariat on (02)
6277 4573.
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