Failing Boys and Moral Panics: Perspectives on the Underachievement Debate

The paper re-examines the underachievement debate from the perspective of the 'discourse of derision' that surrounds much writing in this area. It considers the contradictions and inconsistencies which underpin much of the discourse – from a reinterpretation of examination scores, to the conflation of the concepts of 'under' and 'low' achievement and finally to the lack of consensus on a means of defining and measuring the term underachievement. In doing so, this paper suggests a more innovative approach for understanding, re-evaluating and perhaps rejecting the notion of underachievement     

Skill School Boys: Masculine Identity Formation Among White Boys in an Urban High School Vocational Autoshop Program

Through interviews and observations, I explore how a group of white working-class boys who have family traditions in auto repair construct notions of masculinity in a public-vocational-school autoshop class in Buffalo, New York. Many of the students in this group say that they plan to open their own garages on graduation. Although there are many facets to the production of a sense of manhood, I focus on the ways in which young white males in a restructuring economy narrate a sense of self grounded in the area of work on a multiethnic shopfloor—a sphere which they ultimately coconstruct around notions of the racially deviant other. At present, there is not a lot of literature on identity formation processes among youth who are trained in school to become trades-people, particularly in relation to jobs that are typically coded male.     

Factors Associated with Behavioral Competence at School Among Young Boys from Multi-Problem Low-Income Families

Factors associated with school behavioral competence at 72 months were investigated in a sample of at-risk boys followed longitudinally from 18 months. Boys were at risk for developing behavior problems due to early exposure to sociodemographic and family-environmental stressors associated with low-income urban living. Research findings: Of child protective factors investigated, main effects were found for intelligence, mother-reported emotionality and sociability, and observed likability in relation to teacher-reported behavior problems, and results were generally consistent across type of risk. In only one instance did the effect of a protective factor depend on the level of risk. Furthermore, a cumulative measure of protective factors was strongly predictive of child behavior problems and was a better predictor than cumulative risk measures. Observed infant emotionality, child physical attractiveness, and children's self-perceptions of being pro-social or aggressive and fearless were essentially unrelated to behavioral outcome. Mother-reported child emotionality mediated both the relation between mother-reported infant emotionality and teacher-reported internalizing problems, and the relation between observed likability and teacher-reported externalizing problems. Practice/Policy: Clinical implications concern improved identification accuracy of at-risk children who should be targeted for intervention, and forms that intervention should take.     

Factors Associated with Behavioral Competence at School Among Young Boys from Multi-Problem Low-Income Families

Factors associated with school behavioral competence at 72 months were investigated in a sample of at-risk boys followed longitudinally from 18 months. Boys were at risk for developing behavior problems due to early exposure to sociodemographic and family-environmental stressors associated with low-income urban living. Research findings: Of child protective factors investigated, main effects were found for intelligence, mother-reported emotionality and sociability, and observed likability in relation to teacher-reported behavior problems, and results were generally consistent across type of risk. In only one instance did the effect of a protective factor depend on the level of risk. Furthermore, a cumulative measure of protective factors was strongly predictive of child behavior problems and was a better predictor than cumulative risk measures. Observed infant emotionality, child physical attractiveness, and children's self-perceptions of being pro-social or aggressive and fearless were essentially unrelated to behavioral outcome. Mother-reported child emotionality mediated both the relation between mother-reported infant emotionality and teacher-reported internalizing problems, and the relation between observed likability and teacher-reported externalizing problems. Practice/Policy: Clinical implications concern improved identification accuracy of at-risk children who should be targeted for intervention, and forms that intervention should take.     

Low-Achievement Syndrome among Bright Junior High School Boys

Abstract

This investigation was undertaken to determine whether academically bright junior high school male high and low achievers differed significantly on certain non-intellective variables chosen on the basis of related research as being especially promising as significant factors. The School Interest Inventory, the Minnesota Counseling Inventory, and the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule were administered to 284 academically bright junior high school high- and low-achieving boys to determine whether the two groups differed significantly on certain of the scales. It was found that the low achievers had described themselves as having weaker achievement motivation, as having less satisfactory family relationships, as being less aggressive, less persistent, and less conforming, and as having stronger heterosexual interests.     

Polish Migrant Parents of Secondary School Boys in the United Kingdom

This article focuses on the parents of secondary school Polish boys and their capacity to realise their educational and professional aspirations for their children. Our primary finding is that although many Polish parents face considerable challenges in manoeuvring through the educational system, some Polish parents display a level of agency comparable to that of white, British middle-class parents.     

Shortcomings of the IQ-Based Construct of Underachievement

Despite being plagued by serious conceptual problems, underachievement ranks among the most popular constructs in research on the gifted. Many of its problems have their roots in the use of the IQ as the supposedly best method of measuring ability levels. Only a few decades ago the opinion was still widespread that the IQ-based construct of underachievement, having withstood neither its empirical nor its theoretical test, ought to be abandoned. Since then, some points of criticism have simply been forgotten. In this article we therefore take up and follow a few of the broken threads within the discussion. To this end, we present a thorough analysis of the implications of the IQ-based underachievement concept. First we present a definition of underachievement and provide a brief overview of the history of the construct. We then enumerate the theoretical, methodological, and empirical problems of the IQ-based construct.     

英国中小学男生学业成绩相对落后问题透析

针对义务教育男生学业成绩相对落后于女生的现象,英国教育界积极应对,既从男生自身和学校教育等方面分析根源,更努力探寻破解之道——从政府的数据监测、资助专项研究,到学校在校园风气导向、教学组织调整、教学策略选择和男生个人辅导等方面的具体措施,使学校教育中性别维度的差异得到了更大范围和更深层次的关注,男生学业成绩有了较为明显的提升。我国应引以为鉴,对性别等维度的学业差异实施监测,给予相对落后者及时、有效的援助,以逐渐走向更加全面、更为充分的教育公平。     

高中男生人格品质与教育方法的探索与研究

少年人格品质的优劣关系着祖国的未来,中学阶段又是中学生人生观和价值观成型的重要时期,本文旨在通过分析高中男生人格品质的现状及原因,找到高中男生不良行为习惯的矫正方法。     

中学生情绪智力性别比较研究的元分析

针对国内中学生情绪智力研究存在的性别差异不一致的现象,使用元分析技术对中学男女生情绪智力研究的结果进行再分析。结果显示：（1）总体上,中学男女生情绪智力得分与1998年初始测试结果差异显著（t男=-1.719,P〈0.05;t女=-5.862,P〈0.05）;（2）中学生情绪智力确实存在显著性别差异（^-d=-1.63,P〈0.05）,其中女生在感知情绪和调控他人情绪的能力上优于男生;（3）情绪智力研究存在地域效应,但报告质量、发表年代、样本容量等特征对情绪智力的调查结果影响不大。     

Factors Affecting the Academic Underachievement Of Bright High-School Students

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted in which a school principal implemented behavior modification programs with elementary school children. The behaviors dealt with were tardiness, absenteeism, and disruptions. Treatment conditions consisted of the principal: delivering tokens with monetary back-ups; assigning tasks; and engaging in activities with the children. In Experiments I and III returning to baseline conditions revealed that the principal was controlling the behaviors in question. In Experiment II a multiple-baseline design provided evidence that the principal was responsible for the observed increases in school attendance. AU three experiments resulted in changes in the Ss’ behavior in the desired direction.     

Relationships between the STEP Tests and Overachievement/Underachievement

Abstract

A computer program GRADER has been written in FORTRAN IV which returns a letter grade and rank for students based on raw numerical data provided in one or more of four arbitrarily designated input categories. The program is designed for a large lecture class which is divided into small recitation sections. The user provides weights for each input category as well as instructions for handling low and excused scores. The final composite scores and their corresponding ranks are determined according to the normalized weighted averages of each of the four input categories and the user’s desired final grade distribution. The output is in the form of histograms, ordered lists, individual student reports, and summaries.     

论职高纯男生班异性交往的必要性

有些职高班是纯男生班,缺乏与异性交往的机会。重视职高纯男生班学生的异性交往,有利于他们性生理、性心理正常发展;有利于他们注重自身形象;有利于他们端正学习态度,提高学习效率;有利于他们收敛、矫正不良行为习惯;有利于他们今后的社会交往和家庭生活。     

Underachievement in the verbally gifted: Implications for pedagogy

An ecological-systems view is presented describing academic underachievement in highly verbal, gifted adolescents. The highly verbal are considered to be those children who show a precocious ability to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize written material, as well as an attitudinal predisposition toward less structured, more creative verbal tasks. Underachievement is discussed in terms of global versus analytic processing styles, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, verbal versus quantitative interests and abilities, and the concomitant achievement patterns. It is argued that a unique pattern of interests, motives, and cognitive styles results in a differential pattern of achievement for these youth. Underachievement is viewed as a mismatch between the school's curriculum and testing procedures and these children's unique needs and stylistic approaches toward learning. The implications for psychoeducational assessment, pedagogy, and counseling are discussed.     

Family and Sociodemographic Predictors of School Readiness Among African American Boys in Kindergarten

Research Findings: Data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–1999, were used to examine the relation between parenting, sociodemographic characteristics, and school readiness among (N = 1,136) African American boys in kindergarten. Parenting was defined as parenting style (i.e., warmth and control), home learning stimulation, and culturally relevant parenting. Two child outcomes previously linked to school readiness were examined: kindergarten reading and approaches to learning. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to address 2 research questions. First, does parenting predict kindergarten reading above and beyond the contribution of sociodemographic characteristics? Second, does parenting predict kindergarten approaches to learning above and beyond the contribution of sociodemographic characteristics? Practice or Policy: Children with parents who set consistent bedtimes, provided more books in their homes, and read to them more frequently had better kindergarten reading scores after socioeconomic status, environmental safety, and maternal education were controlled. Similarly, children with parents who provided more books in their home and read to their children more frequently had more positive teacher-rated approaches to learning scores in kindergarten. Implications for future research are discussed.     

The Development and Validation of the Perceived Academic Underachievement Scale

Academic competence beliefs have been widely studied. However, conceptual and measurement efforts have not yet been directed toward understanding perceived underachievement (feeling that one's accomplishments fall below perceived capability). We conducted two studies in order to develop and examine validity evidence for the Perceived Academic Underachievement Scale (PAUS). Participants were individuals enrolled for credit in at least one post-secondary course. In Study 1, we evaluated content validity and conducted an exploratory factor analysis. In Study 2, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis and investigated external validity. For both samples, PAUS demonstrated good internal consistency reliability, and items loaded strongly onto a single factor. PAUS was empirically distinct from a range of related constructs. Findings represent preliminary validation evidence.     

Understanding and Reversing Underachievement, Low achievement, and Achievement Gaps Among High-Ability African American Males in Urban School Contexts

This article focuses on the achievement gap, with attention devoted to underachievement and low achievement among African American males in urban school contexts. More specifically, the article explains problems and issues facing or confronting these Black male students in urban education settings. A central part of this discussion is grounded in the achievement gap literature on Black students in general and implications for Black males in particular. Another fundamental aspect of this discussion is the need for urban educators to adopt a social justice or civil rights approach to their work, which means an equity-based and culturally responsive approach in philosophy and action. Suggestions for closing the achievement gap and otherwise improving the achievement of gifted, high-achieving, and high potential African American males are provided to urban education educators and families.     

A Stereotype Threat Account of Boys' Academic Underachievement

Three studies examined the role of stereotype threat in boys' academic underachievement. Study 1 (children aged 4–10, n = 238) showed that girls from age 4 years and boys from age 7 years believed, and thought adults believed, that boys are academically inferior to girls. Study 2 manipulated stereotype threat, informing children aged 7–8 years (n = 162) that boys tend to do worse than girls at school. This manipulation hindered boys' performance on a reading, writing, and math test, but did not affect girls' performance. Study 3 counteracted stereotype threat, informing children aged 6–9 years (n = 184) that boys and girls were expected to perform similarly. This improved the performance of boys and did not affect that of girls.