The Dangerous Article for Boys

Submitted by Matt on Wed, 2012-08-29 23:50

Article here. Excerpt:

'Boys now seek refuge in cheesy horror novels because the Cultural Authorities won't give them the adventure books that were once staples in every boy's life. It is to this I attribute the popularity of vampire novels (and movies and television shows). But even here a boy is destined for disappointment.
...
We have the mistaken impression that it was traditional children’s literature that was preachy. This is not only untrue, but it is almost the exact opposite of the truth. It is precisely the preachiness of politically correct modern literature that offends their innate sense of honesty and justice—a human instinct that we do our best to educate out of them.

Boys are not interested in getting in touch with themselves, and it is particularly off-putting when they are told that it is good for them. The minute the politically correct schoolmarms approach, they head for the woods, where they are free to pick up sticks and pretend they are swords and fight monsters and hunt frogs and swing from trees—anything but to be preached at by people whose sermons consist of high-minded meaninglessness.'

Like0 Dislike0

Comments

I am not sure I am on board with Mr. Cothran. The subtitle of his article is this: "Why boys don’t need to get in touch with their feelings and how you can protect them from people who think they do".

I understand boys and girls are emotionally different, but after reading the full article, Cothran gives me a impression that he may be from a generation that believes boys should never show emotion. He also goes on about their being no good books for boys. I wonder when he last checked? Sometimes things like this get repeated without any factual basis or perhaps it was true years ago, but not anymore. I have never noticed a shortage of "boy" books at my bookstore and I think there are some great book series to choose from in different genres and a that appeal to a variety of boys' interests.

He then says, "Cultural Authorities won't give them the adventure books that were once staples in every boy's life."

Who is this "cultural authority" that is withholding adventure books? Most elementary kids are under the control of their parents who are the ones taking them to bookstores and libraries. I don't think parents are refusing to buy them, and every bookstore and library I have been to has been loaded with adventure books for boys.

Cothran then complains that superhero books have taken over "great westerns" and he goes on to tell parents exactly what books boys should be reading and in what order!

Although generally boys might tend to like a certain type of book, it should be a free choice. Sure, introduce them to classics, but also let them explore and pick out stuff on their own that suits their individual interests and ability. Some story lines are too complicated for a reader that can only sit still for a short time, so sometimes a book of multiple short stories is better. Parents or "the authority" should be facilitators not dictators when it comes to getting children to read.

I think there are other reasons why boys in the public education system aren't reading because I don't see this problem in the homeschool sector. I don't think it is because boys are not allowed the classic adventure books like Mr. Cothran believes.

Like0 Dislike0
Submitted by Kris on Thu, 2012-08-30 13:57

While I agree with you on the first part, that boys should be encouraged to get in touch with an express their emotions, but should not be expected to do so in the same way girls do. I somewhat disagree with you on the second part. When deaf kids are getting in trouble because their sign language involves extending the index and middle fingers, crossing them and shacking their hand looks "too much like a gun", there is very much a cultural authority, and it has very much targeted the preferences of boys. I think Cothran is overstating it, but it does exist.

Like0 Dislike0
Submitted by Kratch on Thu, 2012-08-30 16:07

Your right.

I did not mean that there is not a cultural authority biased against boys in the school environment, as there definitely is. I just don't think schools are withholding access to classic adventure books as Mr. Cothran put it or that reading the classics in the order he prescribes will solve any of this.

IMO, the issue with boys and reading is likely caused by many factors in the school environment and the home/parent environment. I think different reading styles that boys tend to have, as well as their different developmental levels are not favorable with our testing systems which begin as early as kindergarten. I also think reading is best taught in the home. If kids are not reading or if they do not have exposure to proper books, it is really the parents fault more than the schools'.

Like0 Dislike0
Submitted by Kris on Thu, 2012-08-30 22:04

"I just don't think schools are withholding access to classic adventure books as Mr. Cothran put it or that reading the classics in the order he prescribes will solve any of this."

I'm not entirely sure about classics, but when my little sister was in school, there were a number of books that were openly frowned upon by the teachers, which she was "encouraged" not to bring to school, let alone use for school projects. These were typically in the high fantasy genre.

As to the rest, I very much agree.

Like0 Dislike0
Submitted by Kratch on Fri, 2012-08-31 01:23