Female Supremacy Articles - Page 24 "Women's town" to put men in their place

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Male-female gap 'bad for society'

Manawatu Standard

Tuesday, 22 May 2007

New Zealand now has one of the largest gaps in the world between male and female achievers, with men coming out the losers, according to Massey University's pro vice-chancellor in education, James Chapman.

The disparity was now so great that New Zealand rated with "quite poor and impoverished countries" that, in spite of male dominance in their societies, showed little in terms of male educational achievements.

Professor Chapman's remarks followed a Massey University College of Education graduation in which only 15 of the 158 graduates were men.

"There has been a quite significant decline in the interest of males in primary school teaching and particularly in the early childhood field. It is not quite so evident in the secondary school area."

Professor Chapman said that from his viewpoint, sitting on stage at the graduation on Thursday, the disparity was "absolutely marked" as woman after woman passed by to collect degrees.

"Right there it was so visible as they crossed the stage. This is a real problem, a hidden problem, in trends in New Zealand education that is going to have a major impact downstream."