A fact that has been generally overlooked is the steadily declining percentage of men enrolled in American colleges and universities. This has been the trend for quite a few years. The current ratio is 57% women to 43% men.
By itself, that datum is not necessarily a reason for concern. All of the really sharp kids go to college. Evidently, the difference is that a larger percentage of the less academically inclined guys decide not to try college, or just aren’t qualified to apply. Since a college degree is of no great benefit to many of the weaker students these days, this isn’t a big problem. It does, however, call for explanation.
In this NRO article, Kate O’Beirne gives her analysis of the situation: Most schools have so “feminized” the readings that boys get bored and tune everything out.
I suspect that she has hit upon part of the answer.
It would be interesting to see if this situation (which would be a crisis if it were any other population group) holds true for graduates of private schools, or if it’s due to the effects of government schools.
