Chapter 2: Today's Students

In chapter two of The Joy of Teaching one of the six main points is how gender influences students. Teacher Ted Kowalski a computer science teacher at Middlebrook High School found that girls who excel in math don't want to be a part of his class because they feel that computer's and video games are for boys. Gender can also influence students physically. There are different rules and ramifications of boys and girls sports because physically they are different after the age of eight. Girls are often encouraged by school systems to be quiet and hard workers, but the book states that "girls are encouraged to break out of their stereotype modes more often that boys."