Category Archives: School Life

The Gender Equation in Schools



 Gender bias affects boys’ experience in schools. It’s most often unconscious and unintentional bias but it affects how our boys see themselves and how they feel about school and learning. And until we admit that fact and grapple with the gender equation in schools, things aren’t going to get much better. Educator Jason Ablin learned that … Continue reading The Gender Equation in Schools


How Microschools and Black Moms May End the School to Prison Pipeline



When they realized that schools wouldn’t change quickly enough to meet their kids’ needs, members of the Black Mothers Forum opened microschools, with an eye toward ending the school to prison pipeline. Existing school leaders and educators “really did not understand how to create a safe and supportive learning environment for our Black children,” say … Continue reading How Microschools and Black Moms May End the School to Prison Pipeline


Forest Schools Get Boys Learning Naturally



School + nature = forest schools “A forest school is holistic education outdoors in nature,” says Nicki Farrell, co-founder of Wildings Forest School in Queensland, Australia. Learning doesn’t typically follow set curriculum; rather, it’s child-led. Education is individualized and play-based and includes plenty of movement. The kids who struggle the most in traditional schools — … Continue reading Forest Schools Get Boys Learning Naturally


Homeschool Hacks and How to Homeschool Boys (w Linsey Knerl)



How DO you homeschool boys? Trying to recreate school-at-home doesn’t work for most boys — as so many families found out during the pandemic. And placing your life and career on hold while you educate your kids isn’t exactly practical either.  Linsey Knerl, a freelance writer and mother of six (including 5 boys!), says it’s … Continue reading Homeschool Hacks and How to Homeschool Boys (w Linsey Knerl)


Novel Education for Boys



What would happen if we based our education for boys on their interests?  The idea of crafting an education around a student’s interests is a bit novel in today’s world of standardized curriculum and tests. But the concept is sound. As parents (and educators) know, trying to force a child to learn something they don’t … Continue reading Novel Education for Boys


School & Learning in the COVID-19 Era



How’s school going?  That’s a fraught question even when there’s NOT a pandemic going on. Now, it seems almost crazy to ask, given that most of us are dealing w less-than-ideal educational situations.  But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for miserable. If virtual school or online learning isn’t working for you, homeschool may … Continue reading School & Learning in the COVID-19 Era


Back to School 2020



Back to School 2020 will go down in the annals of history. The United States (and world) is still wrestling with the coronavirus pandemic. Schools are slated to “open” — whether virtually or literally or some combination thereof — in a few weeks. Some, in fact, have already opened. There’s so much we don’t yet … Continue reading Back to School 2020


Coaches Speak about Youth Sports



Youth sports are a BIG DEAL.  According to ESPN, 28.7 million American kids between the ages of 6 and 17 played youth sports in 2013. That number is likely low; many kids start well before age 6. Gone are the days when boys started Little League at age 10 or 11. Today, T-ball begins at … Continue reading Coaches Speak about Youth Sports


150 Being a Stay-at-Home Dad



Meet Stay-at-Home Dad, Homeschooling Dad, and Mankind Project participant and advocate, Mark. Dad of Sam, age 8, husband of Corissa, living in Portland, Oregon, Mark retraces his journey as a boy who didn’t feel listened to by his mom and dad, struggling with his identity as a stay-at-home dad, and his striving to be an … Continue reading 150 Being a Stay-at-Home Dad


149: All About E-sports



Competitive video gaming may be coming soon to a school near you. E-sports  (short for “electronic sports”) is a $900 million dollar global industry. In South Korea, top video game players are household names, and matches are televised. Here in the United States, more than 80 colleges and universities, including Kent State and the University … Continue reading 149: All About E-sports