Sex Differences in Beginning Reading in a Progressive School

Early Schooling: The Handicap of Being Poor and Male

“…Throughout most of the 20th century, the relatively poorer performance of boys in language arts and reading spurred research on school practices that might have negative effects on boys (Brophy 1985;Gates 1961;Powell 1967;Robinson 1955;Stanchfield 1973;Stroud and Lindquist 1942;Wilson, Burke, and Fleming 1939). With the rise of feminism and, even more, with women's wholesale entry into the workforce, questions have come to the fore about school practices that could have negative effects on girls, especially in math (see, e.g., Schwartz and Hanson 1992).…”

Some considerations of the significance of individual differences in reading

“…Huggett (5) in a well controlled study came to the conclusion that "apparently boys should be promoted to the second grade at a later age than girls." In support of this same conclusion Wilson, et al (13) found that at the first and second grade level girls did better than boys. The authors pointed out that at the first grade level the teacher must adapt her teaching to the different physiological needs of children.…”

The development of language skills.

“…As shown by Olson (80), and by Ketcham (63), learning to read is a function of the child's total development; hence reading instruction should always be undertaken on an individual basis. In general, girls are ready for this learning process at an earlier age than boys (Wilson,et ah,111). This probably reflects the all-around developmental superiority of girls which is reflected functionally in language growth as well as physiologically and anatomically in physical growth.…”