Why boys need a boyhood to become good men | essentialkids.com.au

Boys struggling to find their self-worth ... Photo: Getty Images

Given the current deep community outpourings of concern for the senseless violence present on Australian streets at night, the disturbing numbers of little boys being suspended and expelled from our schools, and the decreasing numbers of young men attending and graduating university, something is going wrong in the world of our boys.

I lay blame on society, which seems to have stolen boyhood in the name of a sanitised, politically correct, gender neutral, bland childhood.

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Powerhouse Programs - Because Growing Up is Optional

Powerhouse Programs is the creation of Stephen Halsall and Andy Roy. Both Stephen and Andy have been heavily involved in working with men and boys through well-respected national community development organisations. Their lives and relationships have become richer for these endeavours and they take great joy in sharing this with others.

In doing this work in the community it became very clear to them that there was significantly more they could to do to bring this powerful work into the lives of a larger proportion of our society.

Stephen and Andy met in 2003 where as chance would have it, they both attended their first men only weekend in the Gold Coast Hinterland. From that fateful encounter they have become close friends and work colleagues through facilitating programs like Common Ground (a 9-week life skills course for men program), Pathways to Manhood (a week-long contemporary Rite-of-Passage for men and boys), on various organising committees for Men’s Gatherings and executive committees. In 2009 they jointly developed a Men’s Rite of Passage program which was gifted to Men’s Wellbeing Association. (www.menswellbeing.org)

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21st Century Man: The Way Forward (Video)

A stand-out session from the 2013 National Men's Health Gathering in Brisbane was the world-focus keynote discussion panel sponsored by the Australian Men's Health Forum, titled 21st Century Man: The Way Forward.

This discussion about the changing roles of men and boys is something Australia and the world have been waiting for – and is now available on YouTube.

Chaired by AMHF President, Julian Krieg, speakers included:

• Dr Warren Farrell, educator and author
• Glen Poole, Director of the UK consultancy Helping Men
• Dr Arne Rubinstein, author “The Making of Men”
• Gary Misan, University of South Australia.

Watch the complete forum:

Watch excerpts:

Gary Misan:

Glen Poole:

Dr Arne Rubenstein:

Dr Warren Farrell:

Q & A:

EMALE Issue 123 (June 2013)

In this month's issue:

"Keeping Passion Alive in Your Relationship" by Jed Diamond

Challenges to improving male health in NSW

the first cut is the deepest

new men’s sexual health training

a view on ADHD and boys

news briefs

• The Boyfriend Trainer App
• Men’s Health Week 2013
• Why women live longer - not what you think
• Global health policy 'undermining men's health'

Future events

• 2013 National Men's Health Gathering
• 2013 Institute of Group Leaders Conference

Why schools are failing our boys

The system is leaving boys behind ... Photo: Getty Images

Boys will be boys, they tell us, but how many of us actually take this adage to heart and embrace it?

I am the mother of four boys, now all adults. If I think back to their childhoods and adolescence, it’s a whirlwind of movement and physicality, adventure and injury, rough and tumble play, of fart jokes and stinky sports shoes, short and to-the-point communication, and lots and lots of food and Milo. (Actually, it’s not so different when we all get together now.)

This description of life with boys won’t surprise most people – and yet why is it that the one place where children spend most of their time, school, is so stacked against meeting boys’ needs?

A recent survey in WA found that girls are starting to outperform boys in maths and science, which hasn’t been the case previously. Fantastic news for our girls – these fields badly need some gender balance, but it’s a shame if it’s at boys’ expense. We are also seeing disturbing numbers of boys in remedial classes and in behaviour management units in our schools across the country.

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