A few days ago the editorial writer David Brooks wrote an interesting column on how our schools discourage the masculine virtues. Here is the article:

Schools Must Make Cultural Adjustments for Boys

I do not always agree with Mr. Brooks. This editorial, however, raises a serious issue that must be considered by our country. In it, Brooks imagines that Henry V (made famous by Shakespeare's play) is a boy showing up for school today. Henry is rambunctious. He tests limits. He is brash and childish at times. He is competitive...and messy. He also leads a small group of men to victory over a much larger force at Agincourt because of this confidence, courage, and chutzpah. Today, we have unwittingly created an educational system that punishes and scolds (the scolding and nagging are worse than the punishments because they discourage so thoroughly). After we do this, however, we mope about wondering where all of the men have gone. As Lewis said, "We castrate and bid the geldings to be fruitful."

The cultural reasons for this are many and there is not enough space to write on it if I took the rest of the year, but here is an educational fix that we are trying here at Veritas:

1. Read books that give boys models of the marital virtues. History is littered with examples. Every culture but ours seemed to realize that women and children would suffer if men lacked (generally) the martial virtues.

2. Discipline boys by giving clear limits and then enforcing those limits without trying to make them feel sorry about being a boy. We must NOT let boys run amok like little barbarian. This does them no good. Discipline helps them to become men. We must NOT, however, define good as quiet, non-rambunctious, neat, and sedate. King David, as a boy, was not any of these things. We must simply discipline them when they behave sinfully and then put our arms around them encourage them and tell them to get back in the game.

3. Finally, we must celebrate, rather than hide, sexual differences. The glory and joy in life is difference--not sameness. God made men and women differently and we must not force definitions of good onto one gender that are fitted for another. Of course some particular examples will break the mold. Biblical, Classical and Medieval literature abound with examples (Jael, Camilla, and Joan of Arc would be examples). These outliers should not cause us to throw out norms. They should cause us to glory in a God that makes outliers. Sometimes classical Christian schools get hit in both directions in this area. We are criticized (by well meaning believers) for teaching girls to argue and persuade. As a husband with a wise, courageous, and intellectually brilliant woman, I am blessed by her education and ability every day. We are also hit in the other direction (usually by well meaning people again) for teaching sexual difference and for habituating it (e.g., pulling our chairs for girls, opening doors, etc.,).

Anyway, read the article and work to make your school more boy friendly. Your girls (and boys) will be blessed by it!