Teaching boys separately from girls is becoming very popular. But, the ACLU is claiming discrimination by providing "separate but equal" education.

National Association For Single Sex Public Education

A new organization has been formed to promote same-sex education. This group, National Association For Single Sex Public Education, states that same sex schools have grown from three to 262 in just the past 11 years. The schools that have been successful in this format teach the two genders differently.

ACLU Claims Smoke Screen

The American Civil Liberties Union legal director for Ohio, Jeffrey Gamso says, "This is a throw-it-up-at-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks situation." [Joseph L. Wagner, Plain Dealer Reporter, cleveland.com, July 12, 2007] There is some evidence that does support his view. Arrowhead High School in Merton, Wisconsin did not see much success the first year. However, Arrowhead merely separated boys from girls and did not teach the girls differently than the boys. Research shows that they learn differently. Separating them is not enough.

Boys

• Boys enter the classroom with more sound effects
• Need to be asked more questions affirming learning
• Joke around more
• Need to be reminded to take notes
• Want opportunities to taste, touch and smell projects
• Grades not as good as girls

Girls

• Enter room quietly
• Get straight to work
• Prefer more discussion time
• More focused
• Go above and beyond what is asked

Criteria Is Studied

In most schools that adopt a single-sex format, focus groups are held with parents to discuss the possible change. Research is studied and a vote is taken. A principal does not just decide that for next year the girls will be in different classrooms than boys. The research can be impressive if boys are taught differently than the girls and not merely separated.

Cleveland

The city of Cleveland is losing students. In fact, in the past five years, Cleveland has lost 20,000 students. Superintendent of schools for Cleveland, Eugene Sanders, spearheaded this same-sex project in an effort to keep students in Cleveland and provide a better education for both girls and boys. [Joseph L. Wagner, Plain Dealer Reporter, cleveland.com, July 12, 2007]

Male vs. Female Teachers

There seems to also be some evidence that female teachers have a better effect on females than males. The same is true for male teachers having a more positive effect on boys. Staffing all-male classrooms with male instructors is going to be a great challenge since males are entering education is fewer numbers every year. The low salaries are discouraging males from the teaching profession and into other fields.

Economist Thomas S. Dee of Swarthmore College has been examining data on eighth grade students since 1988. He has documented the effects of male and female teachers. Having a male teacher for reading improves the reading gap for 13 year olds. Unfortunately, it only improves reading in males. It actually has a harmful effect on girls.

Boys Lag Behind

There has also been much study about boys lagging behind girls in school. Boys have trouble estimating how much time something will take to complete and they also assume it will take longer than it actually will. Therefore, boys often do not attempt something because they can't get it done anyway.

Dan Kindlon, Ph.D. and Michael Thompson, Ph.D. are co-authors of the book, Raising Cain. After 35 years of study, they conclude that boys are at a higher risk for suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, violence and loneliness. Frustration in school is one more issue to add to the fire.

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Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.