<p>Minnymom, your comments are excellent. I was a substitute teacher in a diverse school district for a number of years. Your comments in #1 ring true - I noticed this in students of all races - it seemed more prevalent in the schools with lower income parents. There are many reasons this could be true, from lack of education of the parents themselves to parents being overwhelmed by the tasks of making a living … and SO MANY reasons in between.</p>
<p>I also agree with your comments regarding diminished expectations of boys. This is exactly the reason my son attended a private middle school - our public middle school culture was one of very low expectations of boys. We were fortunate to have an option - too many parents who care find their efforts to raise high-achieving boys undermined by the culture of the community.</p>
<p>I truly wish I knew of a magic fix.</p>