1st Edition
Working with Boys Creating Cultures of Mutual Respect in Schools
When peer-on-peer sexual abuse becomes commonplace in schools, society has a problem. The toxic attitudes and behaviour some boys display towards girls and women begin with the way those boys relate to each other, especially in school. This book offers an in-depth analysis of the problems facing boys and gives teachers the tools to help boys create relational cultures that are mutually respectful.
Part One of the book looks at how boys relate to each other and how that affects the way they relate to girls and women. Part Two outlines a programme that can be delivered, lesson by lesson, to pupils aged 9 to 18. The programme covers specific lesson topics that can be adapted for different age groups, including:
- Anger
- Banter
- Fear of humiliation
- Boy hierarchies
- Jostling and consent
- Crying and emotional expression
- Lifestyle choices
Working with Boys is a whole-school, iterative programme of study that uses guided reflection to empower boys to self-regulate their attitudes and behaviour. This book is essential reading for school leaders and teachers who want to promote a school environment in which boys are consistently principled, honourable, noble, trustworthy, upright and dignified.
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Dr Emily Setty
About the Author
About this Book
Part One
Chapter 1 - The problem…
Chapter 2 - What boys fear most
Chapter 3 - Who’s on top?
Chapter 4 - Humour is no laughing matter
Chapter 5 - Masculinity and the age of loss of innocence
Chapter 6 - Motivating boys
Chapter 7 - Competition and fear of failure
Chapter 8 - Listening to the Pupil Voice
Chapter 9 - Guided Reflection
Chapter X - Pornography
Chapter 11 - Football!
Chapter 12 - PE Teachers
Chapter 13 - Parental attitudes
Part Two
Introduction
Starter
Lesson One
Banter
Hierarchies
Humour
Humiliation
Anger
Behaviour types
Self-regulation
Crying and emotional expression
Football
Jostling and consent
Competition
Lifestyle Choices
Part Three
Audit tools
Afterword
Biography
Andrew Hampton was a headteacher for 18 years and taught PSHE and Music for 35 years. His award-winning approach for supporting girls’ friendships in school – ‘Girls on Board’ - has been adopted by thousands of teachers and hundreds of schools all over the world.
‘This book doesn’t pull any punches as it describes how our current strategies for nurturing, encouraging and attempting to motivate boys are failing. It explores why and suggests practical strategies for how we can address and improve the situation, encouraging boys to embrace ‘gentle’ masculinity in preference to ‘sour’ masculinity. This is a brave book. It’s also potentially life changing."
Dr Jill Berry - Educationalist
"This is a much-needed book and the timing is perfect. There is too much toxic masculinity in society and I am hopeful this book will make people rethink."
Marylin Hawes - Founder of Freedom From Abuse
"Hampton writes as if he is in my head; it’s incredible."
Sam Browne - Year 13, Southend High School for Boys
