Are girls more intelligent?

[Coldicote]

According to today's news, girls have yet again outshone boys in exam results. In my school days it was put down to boys being preoccupied with sport, while girls were more serious about study. Why is there this difference and does it affect adult life?

[ChuckFickens]

no.....

[Noraq]

Type Your Answer Here...Ask Rapunsel61...she might find this question "intersessting"(sic)

[pa___ul3]

lottie, your last one hit the nail on the head for me, I was always good at exams, answering questions was fine, I just could never write essays, I'd lose track of where I was going, my structure was all over the place and it was always a mess.
I know how to write an essay as when I started to help my lass out in structuring her essays she started to do really well, I just couldn't do it with my own!
I like your idea on teaching boys and girls being different, I may have to use that idea one day, I definitely think it's right!

[daisya]

Paul I think so too, different minds for whatever reason. I know that from teaching reading comprehension in primary school, boys found it more difficult to grasp and were "left behind". I think there really needs to be a rethink on teaching the sexes, though I guess there would be people who would not agree on the pretext that it is segregation and personally I feel that's what it needs at times.

[Ankou]

not sure i would agree with different teaching for the sexes. i was good at exams and at coursework so alternative male orintated teaching may have hindered me.

of course i am crap at everything now, but i was good. once.

[Coldicote]

Straight forward, honest and interesting comments here.
The rate of development in school years, both mental and physical, probably has something to do with it. It would be interesting to know what those who mark exam papers consider makes the difference - factual correctness, tidiness, composition, grammar, or what?

[joko]

dominating something does not mean the same as being better at it...it means to take over...and if necessary push competition aside...thats why so many neutral job roles are still dominated by men...not because women cant do them as well...

[Euphemia]

I think that girls do mature earlier. However, hasn't it been established that both boys and girls do better in single sex schools?

[LoftyLottie]

Paul thanks. My son was just like you. He was brilliant at exams and a fast learner. Got bored when things went to slowly. Hated course work because it just didn't go well for him. He just wanted to learn more and more and do it quickly and get on with things.

You will make a good teacher for boys because you will relate to them. And there are not enough male teachers in the primary school sector. I don't know what age groups you are aiming to teach, but good male teachers with 9-11 year old boys would make so much difference to their enthusiasm.