Nativity Prep hosted Richard V. Reeves, national researcher, keynote speaker, and author of Of Boys and Men, Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why It Matters and What to Do About It in March 2025. Reeves is the founder of American Institute for Boys and Men, AIBM, the first national organization committed to objective research and policy development to enhance the wellbeing of boys and men. According to Reeves, “boys and men are in crisis.”
“The peculiar situation of the human male requires urgent attention. We must help men adapt to the dramatic changes of recent decades without asking them to stop being men.”
At his presentation at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Reeves suggested strategies that will help boys in middle school be equipped to adapt to societal changes and thrive in the future. You can view his presentation here.
According to AIBM, there are key factors in schools that ensure boys thrive. On these strategies, Nativity Prep is ahead of the game:
Relationships are crucial
- Student teacher ratio 3:1
- Mentorship Programming
Effective schools help boys understand who they are.
- Advising Program
- Restorative Justice
- Student Led Conferences
- Overnight trips
- Culturally relevant curriculum
Shared values, traditions, and practices turn schools into communities.
- Nativity boys attend daily morning assembly and weekly gratitude circle
- The school day and year is extended with an experiential summer program
- Nativity boys wear uniforms – button down shirt and ties
- They offer a firm hand shake and eye contact
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