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.

Table of Contents

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

"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