In an opinion piece from The New York Times about gender grade disparity in education, Christopher M. Cornwell, professor and head of the economics department in the Terry College of Business, goes on record about his study which found that boys in elementary schools receive lower grades than their standardized test scores would have predicted.
Cornwell explains that boys are being penalized early in their education for their poor behavior in the classroom. Girls who demonstrate better behavior-and in so doing, earn better grades-are more likely to gain entry into advanced classes and enrichment programs than boys.
“If grade disparities emerge this early on, it’s not surprising that by the time these children are ready to go to college, girls will be better positioned,” Cornwell told The Times.
