BusinessWeek Magazine Cover Story
The latest entry in the national dialog on the gender differences in educating children is the cover article of the May 26, 2003 issue of BusinessWeek magazine. The article, entitled "The New Gender Gap: Why boys are falling behind girls in education - and what it means for the economy, business, and society" will sound familiar to those acquainted with the mission of Princeton Academy. The article describes the "new world that has opened up for girls in the last 30 years" and chronicles the decline in boys' performacne in all areas of schooling, including academic, sports, extra-curricular activities, and student leadership. Headmaster Olen Kalkus sent in the following response, excerpts of which were published in the June 16, 2003 edition of the magazine:
Your recent cover article "The New Gender Gap: Why boys are flling behind girls in education - and what it means for the economy, business, and society" (BusinessWeek, May 26) calls much needed attention to the plight of boys in our educational system. Fortunately, there is a growing group of boys schools (International Boys' Schools Coalition) of which Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart is a member, that are addressing many of the issues raised in your article.
Our school has grown from a student body of 33 students in grades Kindergarten through three to one of 198 students in grades Junior Kindergarten through eight in only four years. That we have accomplished this growth in a relatively short time span speaks to the importance of a values-based education tailored specifically for boys' needs.
As a former head of an all-girls schoool, I was also pleased that your article suggested that the effort to address boys' educational needs need not take away from the enormous progress made in educating girls in the last 30 years. Our intention is to apply the same vigor to the issue of educating boys. As your article so aptly said, "A new world has opened up for girls, but unless a symmetrical effort is made to help boys find their footing, it may turn out that it's a lonely place to be."
Thank you for a very thorough and thoughtful article on an important subject.
Sincerely,
Olen Kalkus
