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August 9, 2007
Boys vs. girls
BoardBuzz is always a big fan of USA Today's point-counterpoint editorials. Today's issue covers the pros and cons of single gender classrooms, with views from the newspaper and the National Organization for Women (NOW).
With more than 300 school districts nationwide preparing to launch single-sex classrooms when school starts, USA Today asserts that this may be an opportunity to "jumpstart academic performance, particularly among boys." The paper goes on to point out that studies show that such environmental factors such as classroom temperature, noise levels, and the amount of movement allowed in class vary across the genders, and single gender classrooms allow for it. USA Today reports:
Single-sex classes or schools aren't the only way to address the educational gender gap. Some coeducational schools have found ways to push up academic performance for boys and girls alike.
There is, however, considerable evidence that many students can do better with gender-specific learning approaches — and without the distractions of the opposite sex. Many boys-only and girls-only private schools have long traditions of success. Only careful planning and research will determine whether separating the sexes becomes a useful tool in public schools, or yet another discarded educational fad.
Meanwhile, NOW argues that separating boys and girls perpetuates the divisions between the sexes. The group refutes the claims that genders prefer different learning environments, and points out that "The notion that the sexes can't be taught together because boys are unruly and girls are timid insults both sexes. Education models based on stereotypes drive the sexes apart and socialize our kids to perpetuate these divisions throughout their lives." NOW also asserts that, instead of putting money into single gender classrooms, money should be spent to improve current classroom conditions across the board. They say:
Let's devote that level of effort, resources and out-of-the-box thinking to co-ed classrooms. Then our daughters and sons can learn and thrive together. Our public schools deserve our attention and our innovation; that's not in question. Let's find a way to improve education without resorting to discrimination and stereotypes that will haunt us, and our children, for decades to come.
BoardBuzz doesn't buy into the notion that additional resources are needed to support single-gender classrooms as NOW suggests. But it is a topic worthy of more discussion. Does your school district have single gender classrooms? If not, should it? Talk to us by leaving a comment.
Posted August 9, 2007 4:45 PM |
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