Thanks to donors, any child who graduates from any Kalamazoo public school receives paid tuition at almost any Michigan college. The Upjohn Institute studied the results and found that it exceeded any other program they used. As with most data, something else was hidden under the chrome. Click on the link to read the entire article.
Women achieved a 45% increase in college completion rates, men, Zero
Women achieved an ROI of $69,000, and men lost $21,000
This is not the only program to exhibit these gender disparities. One college student in Michigan described the issue as; “The motivation for men is just not there anymore.” The experts say that the reason has not been found in the data.
Further data points:
In 1972, Title IX was signed into law. Women had a 13-point gap in bachelor degrees at this time - now a 15-point gap for men.
Boys have a worse average grades in High school.
Boys have a worse HS graduation rate.
Boys do better on standardized testing, but this is falling fast.
The average wages of men with an HS education are falling, and women are rising.
Vocational programs seem to help men more than women.
Due to the lack of experts weighing in, I will quote Tyreese, a community college attendee in Kalamazoo, Michigan - about why women are outdoing men:
Motivation - “women are so driven; they know they have to provide for their families.”
Independence - “They don’t really need a relationship; they can do it on their own.”
Persistence - “When stuff gets hard, the guys tend to run away. The girls don’t.”
Planning - Women tend to live in the future, while men live in the present.”
And a few more data points to make a hypothesis:
Women are volunteering for Peace Corps at a two-to-one ratio over men
Women are twice as likely to study abroad as men
While I agree with Tyreese above, I would add the observation of a lack of risk-taking in men - and I don’t mean the kind of risk that causes them to race cars on city streets.
What do you think are the reasons; women's roles changing, an education system more aligned with girls, a decline in ambition, or a tough labor market for men? This thread shows us a frequent trait of data - it shows a result but may not show the root cause hiding behind it.
Also, I’m not sure if you knew that the Kalamazoo Promise instituted about 4-5 years ago that all vocational schools are now included!!
I’m surprised by the disparities between male and female in education! Is it possibly a generational issue? I have noticed at least around here a push for the women to get their degrees, then work and family if they choose…. Some men/guys are going right into workforce (take a year off of school)and then deciding if they want to go to college/vocational school! I’m also seeing many friends kids who are living together and working full time while attending college part time and then getting married after 2-4 years later, while not having children!
Also, I’m not sure if you knew that the Kalamazoo Promise instituted about 4-5 years ago that all vocational schools are now included!!
I’m surprised by the disparities between male and female in education! Is it possibly a generational issue? I have noticed at least around here a push for the women to get their degrees, then work and family if they choose…. Some men/guys are going right into workforce (take a year off of school)and then deciding if they want to go to college/vocational school! I’m also seeing many friends kids who are living together and working full time while attending college part time and then getting married after 2-4 years later, while not having children!
An interesting read!