Other Voices: 'What makes Johnny a naughty boy?'

Article here. Excerpt:

'Most boys aren't ready to compete with girls in a structured school environment as girls usually surpass the boys of this age in maturity by two years or more.

This is a significant gap, especially for boys who are often too immature for the school setting. Elementary school teachers will reveal that most discipline problems involve boys, who make up most of the children with academic deficiencies.

Much of what we do in elementary school classrooms is designed primarily for girls. The demands on students in terms of conduct, neatness, politeness and other such characteristics are really more geared to girls than to young, energetic boys.'