I just finished reading The New Gender Gap, the May cover story of Business Week.
Also read "Commentary: Why Can’t We Let Boys Be Boys?"
I suppose I can believe that boys are falling behind, but it doesn't concern me.

What is happening out in the general population doesn't have to effect what happens to my kids. Only if schools and teachers are the only educational influences would I be concerned. There is still lots of boys achieving, there is just more girls than ever also achieving. I only care about David so the fact that there is a widening gap doesn't necessarily have to affect David.

School IS tougher than it ever has been. So much more is expected at an earlier age. I worry more about the social aspects of growing up and going to school than the academic ones.

I think boys will always be squirmier than girls, which is to their learning detriment. Just this week I played Monopoly with Cassidy and David and David, although he enjoyed it and was involved, spent half the time standing on his head! Girls have their own challenges; one of them being they are far more concerned with appearances and "being liked" than boys, which could hender their educational process.

Thanks, Aunt Martha for the link to the article. I'm always interested in child-rearing, educational articles.