Chapter 2: Today's Students

In chapter two of their book The Joy of Teaching (2008), Gene E. Hall, Linda F. Quinn, and Donna M. Gollnick talk about how gender influences students (p. 67- p. 70). Hall et al. (2008) start off with making it clear that "educators cannot predetermine ability in these academic areas [mathematics, science, language, reading, and writing] based on a student's sex" (p. 68). However, they mention that the differences in genders tends to be triggered by the culture's role on them (Hall et al., 2008, p. 68). According to Hall et al., society tells females need to be quiet and polite and males need to independant and assertive (2008, p. 68- p. 69). They say that this is what teachers need to observe in the classroom to make sure that those students who don't fit into society's view are not harrassed or excluded (Hall et al., 2008, p. 69).