Gender stereotyping is a common phenomenon in modern society. The presence of this menace is apparent in every sphere of development, including the education system. Often, gender stereotyping manifests in schools in the manner in which knowledge is imparted. For instance, boys may be made to believe they occupy a higher pedestal, while girls are a notch less equal. The bias instilled in schools can follow both genders into the world at large, hence widening the window for gender stereotypes among future generations.

Sending Across the Wrong Message
Classroom education can act as the biggest instrument of gender stereotyping in school. Teachers impart certain messages that make the segregation obvious---for example, "boys in the block corner, girls in the dolls corner"---that may hinder children's overall development. Such ideas may deter students from rising to their potential. Students who cannot adhere to norms of gender are often victims of harassment and bullying; this issue arises for both boys and girls. Teachers must encourage both sexes to stretch the boundaries of stereotype and cultivate a sense of ambition and equality.

Girls Can Be Better, Too
Traditionally, girls have often been taught that appearance and social grace are important, while boys are pushed toward achieving academic and athletic superiority. But recent findings shun this stereotyping and reveal that in fact, girls are performing exceptionally well in school, and boys are a few steps behind. A study titled "The War Against Boys" by Christina Hoff Sommers states that according to new data and statistics, girls are electing and pursuing more difficult courses of study than boys. Sommers found that girls acquire 60 percent of the A grades and boys garner nearly 70 percent of Ds and Fs.

The Attention "Disorder"
A report published by the American Association of University Women in 1992 puts forth another popular stereotype that is rampant in the education system: that teachers pay more heed to boys than girls. However, newer research by the Federal Department of Education shows that girls are favorites among faculty. This may be because they are less subject to disciplinary action or suspension. In the case of boys, 80 percent are likely drop-outs because of immature behavior and lack of discipline.

Textbook Tick-Off
A lot of educational materials have widespread messages endorsing gender-bias. Studies have observed that most textbooks carry names of and examples using male figures. A research paper titled "Gender Bias is Alive and Well and Affecting Our Children" states that elementary and high school social studies texts include five times more males than females. The gender bias in the curriculum does not stop there. Boys receive an unfair deal, too. For example, boys are discouraged from enrolling in traditionally "female" courses such as home economics. Such segregation is only widening the gender gap, and calls into question the credibility of the curriculum.