The terms convergent and divergent have been used by educationalists to describe the minds of males and females. Recognizing the difference is crucial for educational success. Other new research from the US suggests that the male brain is developing until the age of twenty five, previously thought to have ended at twelve or fourteen at the latest. Perhaps we should review our educational systems.
Alan Gilbert. President of COMPASS www.compasspa.ie

alan gilbert, Carlow, Ireland

We always wondered why the perfomance of girls exceeds that of boys continuously. Boys feel demoralised after the results are out in the final examinations. From the report by Alexandra Frean here it is revealed that the teaching method and the absorption to it by both sexes are not equal, although of same species. If we teach a parrot and maina to talk in the same class, the end result will tend to vary grotesquely. It is now up to the parents to think where to put their offsprings; either in co-education systems or separate ones to boost their individual characterstics forward.

SATYANARAYAN MOHAPATRA, CUTTACK, INDIA/ORISSA

its certainly seems something that needs looking into. My husband has voiced quite a few concerns mentioned in the report.

my daughter aged 3 1/2 certainly seems to be proving Dr. Sax right.

jacqueline , watford, uk

I and my children's father attended single-sex schools in the 70s. Our sons attend a mixed comprehensive.

I believe that the social skills my sons have learnt by attending a mixed school have prepared them for adult life (and future relationships) far better than the single sex schools we attended.

On the downside, there are definite educational benefits to single sex tuition. My eldest son became totally switched-off from education in the sixth form; my younger is rapidly losing motivation despite my best efforts to keep him engaged.

Perhaps the answer is a combination of both systems. Within mixed-sex schools there should be provision for single-sex tuition in academic subjects, and mixed for the 'social' aspects of schooling plus the less academic subjects .

Something certainly needs to be done. We are failing a whole generation of boys who are losing interest in education and a clear picture of their 'place' in society.

Donna Walker, Effingham, Surrey

Reflecting back on my own primary school experience almost forty years ago, these findings just makes so much sense. I bucked and struggled against the authority of most female teachers and still have a highly cynical disregard for most of them. One or two recognised and nurtured my inate capabilities and to them I am truly thankful.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

So. Another psychologist who appears to be an expert on just about everything. There's too much of "I believe" in all this to make it credible.

I guess this is another of those "publish or perish" statements.

Evidence! That's what's needed. Not armchair philosophy.

richard, bangkok,

The education system started for boys only. till the 18th century when people who could afford it sent their girls to private seminaries. The majority of the population were schooled from the late 18th century in an open classroom mixing the sexes and the age groups. Why blame the politicians - at least they provided schooling for the masses and few of us of have experience of single sex schools.

Anne Hood, Bridport, Dorset

Another aspect of mixed classes which has been overlooked in this article lies in the competetiivness of boys to impress the girls even at a young age. Boys are not only easily distracted by the pretty girls in the class but they are also competing with the other boys to be noticed by them - just look at male displaying behaviour throughout the animal kingdom. I believe it's true that boys will learn better without these distractions - and, probably girls would as well. Also, with female teachers outnumbering males, young boys are starved of good role models who promote education in their daliy lives. All this on top of differing learning styles means that neither sex is getting a fair shake.

James, Nottingham,

Rubbish!

Boys suffer from the effects of extreme feminism and misguided “equality” issues. They believe that they are pushed aside when they are better at something (usually physical) so that an equal number of girls can participate. At school there are special rules for girls, extra considerations for girls, positive discrimination and quotas, and yes, blatant favouritism for girls. They are singled out by the news media for special treatment when they achieve something that men have been doing for years. Whatever they achieve is not celebrated at the same level. They are even viewed with suspicion in some occupations, primary school teachers, social workers, even nursing.

I was educated in a boys’ school and later became a teacher. I saw the effects of a boring curriculum, taught with little imagination and inadequate resources. Boys thrive on excitement, on challenge, on "doing stuff" girls are passive learners.

This has nothing to do with hearing and seeing differences.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

Sax is telling us what we knew in Great Britain 60 years ago. Our education system was developed based on the boy's and girl's schools. You only have to honestly analyze the results of that system to know that it was the best way forward. It was only when the politicians put their sticky fingers into the pie that they made a hash of it. It now takes an American to tell us what we are doing wrong.
Peter, Thailand

Peter Beales, Chiangmai, Thailand

Whatever Sax says, boys are better at non-verbal than verbal skills in comparison with girls and some of his perceived differences are simply nit-picking. The reason that girls are now doing better than boys is simply that the curriculum has become effeminised. Boys are also more competitive than girls and require that stimulus to maintain interest. There have been two major regressions in education, namely teaching the sexes together beyond the elementary level and teaching those of different abilities together. Until this is reversed, boys will not prosper and the teaching profession will fail to attract and retain the male maths and science graduates it requires to ensure the future survival of this country as a first world country.

John G, Bromley,

I think he makes a lot of sense. It would be good if the curriculum was changed as I found primary school unstimulating - I think it's mainly designed by females with females in mind (not necessarily in a bad way, just thinking to themselves what they'd find of interest).

I would probably have turned off school only I was so good at maths (went on to study it in university). But some guys who were probably at least as bright as me never again got focused on school and ended up underperforming.

Tom, Dublin,

Thank heavens somebody is finally picking up on this. When my son was in 6th Form at secondary school, 10 out of his 12 regular teachers were women and he completely spat the dummy, to the extent that he simply refused to return to his school. Fortunately, I was in a financial position to write that year off and transfer him to an excellent private school in the UK, where he was immediately physically and mentally engaged, going from strength to strength. He is now doing extremely well at a leading university.

His fellow male students at the original school were not so lucky.

I know that this letter will probably precipitate a deluge of contradictory evidence. Sorry about that and also sorry that I am withholding my name, which I do not normally do, for reasons that must be obvious.

Name & Address Supplied, Shenzhen,