Teenage boys should be taught about ‘bromances’ like the one between Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson

Boys should be exposed to “bromances” in English classes, such as the one between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, to foster close male friendships.

This is the opinion of an English teacher, who also believes that Frodo and Sam in Lord of the Rings are good role models for ‘bromance’.

Matt Pinkett, a teacher who challenges the “toxic masculinity” encouraged by the likes of influencer Andrew Tate, wants boys in school to embrace the “emotional openness” of close male friendships called “bromances.”

In a new book, he warns that the men boys encounter in school literature are not “great examples of male kindness.”

For example, Ebenezer Scrooge, for most of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, is “a little stupid,” and Macbeth “kills a lot of people.”

Many of the men in the GCSE curriculum are “tools,” he says – a term meaning an obnoxious or foolish person.

In his book Boys Do Cry, due out next month (SUBS – keep the name of the book), Mr Pinkett, an English teacher in Surrey, says: ‘To combat the profusion of masculine toolishness that pervades the GCSE curriculum, it is important that we expose children in key stages 1, 2 and 3 to texts that contain close, emotionally intimate and enriching male relationships.

“There are plenty of books that are chock-full of bromantic relationships. ‘Sam and Frodo. Holmes and Watson.’

The teacher, who gathered evidence from school staff, wellness experts and therapists, is encouraging teachers to make close male relationships the norm by complimenting male colleagues.

They should discuss barriers to bromance, such as fear of ridicule or people questioning guys’ sexuality when they’re in a close friendship.

The book also discusses how to discourage “bad chatter” between boys by teachers, as name-calling, ridicule and “verbal abuse” can make it difficult for young men to admit that they are struggling with a problem.

Mr Pinkett says teachers need to be aware of body image as an issue for boys, who are faced with “sun-kissed and statuesque examples of male bodily perfection on television shows such as Love Island” and social media influencers “whose abs have abs.” ‘.

Bigorexia, an anxiety disorder that makes a person think they are too small or skinny, or that they are never muscular enough, can lead guys to become fixated on building muscle mass, exercising excessively with weights, and using anabolic steroids to gain weight.

The book advises teachers not to tell boys they “got shot in the summer” or say things like “I need some strong boys to help me take these books next door,” which could make some kids feel uncomfortable by suggesting certain body types. must be commended.

The book also suggests that teachers teach boys about “unrealistic” male bodies in advertisements, on reality TV shows and social media, which may have been digitally altered, and warn of the potential negative consequences of steroid abuse, such as hair loss, breast augmentation. development and severe acne.

Concerns have been raised about gym classes and sports in schools, which could lead to some boys being “ostracized and bullied for their lack of sports or physical skills”, while boys who excel at sports could become part of a culture where “toxic expectations of masculinity” are expected and encouraged.

The book discusses that boys who are told about problems by their friends are more likely to respond with humor, try to minimize the problem, or blame their friend, and so they may need to be helped to learn to listen.

On the role of teachers, Mr Pinkett said: ‘I’m not suggesting we should ever try to be therapists – that would never work.

“But the fact is, we face these kids for huge parts of their lives.

“If we can speak positively about male emotions and show ways to deal with problematic feelings, that would be a powerful thing.”

He added, “We need to teach guys to be nice, and that it’s okay to be vulnerable and emotionally articulate.”