As we know, boys turn in homework late, yet at 3:30 pm go off to jobs on time.
How can boys do so poorly in school, and so well in the workplace? In a phone conversation with Bob Schaeffer of FairTest, I gave a lousy answer. My lousy answer: 1) In the work place, boys get paid, so there is a tangible reward, unlike school; 2) In the work place, the boss doesn't yell or punish employees, unlike school. While both are true, they don't get at the heart of the matter. My co-author Julie Coates reminded why boys do so well in the workplace: we've been doing it for 10 million years.
Males are bred and neurological wired to work. We live to work. For 10 million years (give or take a few million), it has been the male's primary responsibility to provide for the family (hunt, fight, build, earn, etc.). We can't help it. We love it. We won't leave it.
Most males think work, breathe work, get up for work, and doodle during vacation about work ideas.
And women expect us to work. This is the fundamental reason boys can turn meaningless stupid homework in late, then an hour later show up for work on time. Even if your name is not Bob Schaeffer, you can post your reactions now: : :
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