In "They Treat Girls Differently Don't They" the author Timothy Harper tries to address the differences in the classroom between the way girls and boys are treated. The text begins by using a study from the American Association of University Women showing that 4 out of 5 times teachers call on a boys rather than a girl. However Timothy Harper points out that the differences are not only in the classroom, but as a big picture social behavior.
Timothy states that critics believe that the differences in the classroom start from kindergarten. Girls start just as boys in behavior and are changed by high school to be taught that math and science careers are not what they should be interested in and that gender biased teaching leads to girls in school to believe they have restraints while boys believe it is a place of opportunity.
When videos were shown to teachers the teachers were surprised to see a bias in their classroom on the hands they picked to answer questions, but Director Elllen Silber of the Institute of for the Women and Girls at Marymount College explains that blame on teachers shouldn't be the issue. The teachers through school are exposed to boys and girls differently and respond based on cultural influences.
Pat O'Reily a professor in developmental psychology explains some differences in diagnosis for ADD for boys than girls and some of the cultural differences may enter through different amounts of attention that little boys need and the feelings of being left out that girls feel starting from a young age. Boys form different relationships in schools such as hierarchies and girls typically form more collaborative relationships.
Timothy Harper at the end gives a few examples of what parents at home, parents at schools and even teachers can do to make themselves and other more aware of this gender bias and how to influence others about how to make a more equal classroom environment.
