1st Edition

Reassessing Gender and Achievement Questioning Contemporary Key Debates

By Becky Francis, Christine Skelton Copyright 2005
    212 Pages
    by Routledge

    208 Pages
    by Routledge

    Challenging current theories about gender and achievement, this book assesses the issues at stake and analyses the policy drives and changing perceptions of gender on which the 'gender and achievement' debates are based.

    This new topical book guides the reader through the different theories and approaches, drawing together and reviewing work on gender and educational performance. The authors also highlight the continuing problems experienced by girls in terms of achievement and classroom interaction. The subjects covered include:

    • perspectives on gender and achievement
    • the construction of gender and achievement in education policy
    • evaluating boys’ underachievement
    • the future for boys and girls?
    • raising achievement: 'What works in the classroom?'

    Teachers, education professionals and students engaged in teacher training will welcome the editors' objective yet critical expertise.

    1. Introduction 2. Perspectives on Gender and Achievement 3. The Construction of Gender and Achievement in Education Policy 4. Evaluating ‘Boys’ Underachievement’ 5. Explaining Gender Differences in Achievement: Explanation 1 - Boys and girls are born with different interests, motivations and abilities; Explanation 2 - Boys and girls have different learning styles; Explanation 3 - Schools are ‘feminized’ and this disadvantages boys; Explanation 4 - Assessment procedures and teaching practices are biased towards girls; Explanation 5 - That pupils’ constructions of gender manifest in different behaviours which impact on achievement 6. What Has Happened to the Girls? 7. The Future for Boys and Girls? (Re)constructions of gender and achievement 8. Raising Achievement: What ‘works in the classroom?

    Biography

    Becky Francis, Christine Skelton

    'This book leaves readers with the assertion that a commitment to diminishing gender differences is closely aligned to facilitating achievement for both boys and girls in schools. In this sense, it raises important questions about the processes of degendering and regendering that need to occur in order to address the limits imposed by the remasculinization of schooling that are engendered by the forces of neo-liberalism and their legitimation through educational policy.'

    - Wayne Martino, Faculty of Education, The University of Western Ontario,Canada

    'Francis and Skelton provide an excellent overview of the various theories and explanatory frameworks that have been mobilized for making sense of gender differences in achievement.'- Wayne Martino, Faculty of Education, The University of Western Ontario,Canada