The Love Boys Need: Lessons from Dr. Michael Thompson
During the August 25–29 professional learning week, Crescent faculty and staff were fortunate to hear from guest speaker Michael Thompson, PhD, a renowned psychologist, educator, and best-selling author. Dr. Thompson is widely known for his seminal work, Raising Cain, which explores the emotional lives of boys, revealing how cultural expectations often silence their feelings and emphasizing the importance of helping boys develop healthy emotional expression and resilience.
“We are so privileged to have had Dr. Thompson participate in our professional development week,” says Dr. Sandra Boyes, Executive Director of Professional Learning at Research at Crescent. “His groundbreaking insights into boys’ emotional development not only affirm the importance of our mission but also inspire and equip us to better serve our students as they grow into Men of Character.”
“We are so privileged to have had Dr. Thompson participate in our professional development week,” says Dr. Sandra Boyes, Executive Director of Professional Learning at Research at Crescent. “His groundbreaking insights into boys’ emotional development not only affirm the importance of our mission but also inspire and equip us to better serve our students as they grow into Men of Character.”
Michael Thompson’s presentation explored the challenges boys face in co-ed schools, the cultural biases against addressing their needs, and the developmental differences that can put them at odds with classroom expectations. “The average boy is different than the average girl,” explained Dr. Thompson. “They don't take to language as quickly, which puts them at an early disadvantage. But most importantly, boys tend to be more physically active than girls, which is the number one thing that makes trouble for boys in co-ed settings.”
He argued that boys thrive when educators believe in their growth, provide space for their physicality, and ultimately guide them toward becoming good men, partners, and fathers. “What's fundamental to all boys' schools is a love for boys and the faith in their development; that they're going to get there and don't have to be fixed or constantly overcorrected,” said Thompson. “I'm hoping that when you are relating to a boy, you're holding in mind an image of him as a future father, a good partner. If we keep that in mind, we're doing the right thing by them.”
During his visit, Dr. Thompson sat down with Dr. Boyes to share practical and insightful advice for parents as they and their sons begin a new school year. Click here to view the video clips of their discussion.
