Do children perform and behave better at school when taught by same-gender teachers?

a r t i c l e i n f o An increase in the educational achievement of girls at the same time that the number of female teachers in primary school education is rising has led to the discussion whether boys are disadvantaged by the lack of male teachers. The Netherlands Twin Register identified a unique sample of 100 12-year-old monozygotic twin pairs discordant and 396 boy–girl twin pairs concordant for teachers' gender. School performance, as rated by the teacher, an educational achievement test score and teacher-rated ADHD behavior were similar for students with male or female teachers. In spite of the increase in the number of female teachers, boys still outperformed girls in arithmetic, while girls scored higher on language and reading. Boys demonstrated more ADHD behavior, but this was independent of teachers' gender. Therefore, increasing the number of male teachers in primary education may not be as effective to close a possible gender gap as suggested by some. In many Western countries the share of female teachers in the educational system is greater than ever. In the Netherlands, for example, the percentage of female teachers in primary education is over 80%, ranging from 40% in last grade to over 90% in first grade (OCW, 2010). The share of female teachers in primary school will probably continue to rise since over 90% of teaching graduates is female (CBS Statistics Nederland, 2011). The majority of male and female teachers considers the feminization of primary education a problem for children (Sikkes, 2004). Female teachers are suggested to perceive the behavior of boys as more problematic and harm their social and emotional development and motivation to learn. Educational achievement of girls is increasing compared to boys at the same time that the share of women in primary education is rising. Reading and arithmetic levels are equal for 5-year old boys and girls attending kindergarten (Rathbun, West, & Germino Hausen, 2004). From primary school onwards, girls receive higher grades for reading and language, and boys for mathematics and science (OECD, 2010). Furthermore, boys have to repeat a grade more often and more boys attend specialized education (OCW, 2010). In college, the number of female students exceeds the number of males enrolled, except in the more technical fields (CBS Statistics Nederland, 2011). In many Western countries some people blame the feminiza-tion of primary education for the supposed gap in educational achievement between boys …