Many schools are separating boys from girls in middle school. Some praise the project and others express concerns and even condemn the action.
Boys learn differently from girls. Some researchers believe that present school structure tips the odds in favor of girls and want more equitable justice for boys. Girls benefit from this arrangement but less so than boys. Single-sex classrooms are an attempt to create better learning conditions for both boys and girls.
Hankins Middle School in Theodore, Alabama
Theodore, AL, population 6811, is causing quite a stir. Hankins Middle School is trying single-sex classrooms this year. Single-sex classrooms are controversial because they could be interpreted as politically incorrect. Some feel separating boys from girls in the classroom will deprive them of social growth. Feminists are campaigning for women to excel to higher goals. The ACLU is calling the separation unconstitutional. However, in school, girls are already more successful than boys. The state of South Carolina is determined to offer a single-sex classroom experience to all middle school students within the next few years.
Hankins Middle School has separated males from females in all core classes. Boys don’t even eat lunch with girls. The two groups are together on the buses, field trips, band, choir and art. Why do this? School officials state they are trying this for school improvement.
What are the Early Results?
Attendance is up 2 percent
Fewer office referrals
Who would be against fewer office referrals and improved attendance? Several groups oppose this action.
Parents: Some parents are concerned about social growth. Separating girls from boys is unnatural. Some parents are also concerned that they were given little notice and there was no choice given.
ACLU: The ACLU has been involved in many single-sex cases in other states and it is representing the parents opposing the new structure at Hankins.
Student Reactions to Single-Sex Classrooms
11-year old Brenda made the honor roll last quarter for the first time. She says, "When boys are around, you’re shy. And you won’t ask questions if you don’t get it." [Rena Havner, Press-Register, Nov. 24, 2008]
12-year old E. J. says, "If we had some girls, they’d calm us down. Plus, I miss them. They’re pretty." [Rena Havner, Press-Register, Nov. 24, 2008]
11-year old Tyler says, "You can concentrate on what you’re trying to do and teachers can center lessons around topics that boys relate to." [Rena Havner, Press-Register, Nov. 24, 2008]
Decision to Make Hankins a Single-Sex Middle School
Selecting single-sex classrooms was not an impulsive decision based on some new and unresearched trend. Principal Cheryl Wittner states that teachers discussed this option for three years. Teachers also attended workshops in Nashville to learn about the ways boys learn differently from girls. In May of last year, the school held a parent meeting explaining several changes in curriculum including the single-sex setting.
Pros of Single-Sex Classrooms
Teachers can spend extra time with topics that boys or girls may struggle with.
Classes can be differentiated by gender.
Students may branch out and try new things without the other gender to impress.
Discipline problems decrease
Academic achievement increases
It is inexpensive. Separating the two genders does not require changing walls or hiring more teachers.
Cons of Single-Sex Classrooms
Social skills between genders get put on hold.
Not all studies show academic improvement.
Some feel it is discrimination. The ACLU believes that boys do not learn differently than girls and can lead to unequal education.
This theory has not stood the test of time.
Single-Sex classrooms are quickly spreading throughout the United States. All girls and all boys schools are resurfacing after quietly fading from the educational scene. Educators are looking for new ways to improve schools to meet NCLB challenges.
The copyright of the article Pros and Cons of Same-Sex Classrooms in Educational Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish Pros and Cons of Same-Sex Classrooms in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
From what I have learned, it is not enough to just separate boys from
girls. Teachers must also learn how boys learn differently girls and how
girls learn differently than boys. For example, boys like competition.
Girls prefer to sit in groups and talk. Boys need to get up out of their
seats. Girls can sit for long lengths of time. I think the schools that
are not finding results are teaching the same in spite of separating girls
from boys.
Dec 1, 2008 12:34 PM
Guest :
Are we discriminating against boys? Why not let boys shine in an all-boys
classroom. If boys do better separated, why are people against this? As a
mother of three boys who all three disliked school in spite of having above
average IQs, I say it is about time someone is trying to make school more
meaningful for boys. It's always been about the girls.
Dec 2, 2008 6:48 PM
Guest :
I think that girls need to learn how to develop a social relationship with
boys at an early age, so as to have them learn to interact with co-workers
when they are out of the house and working. Kylie, Age 11
Dec 3, 2008 6:05 PM
Guest :
Wonderful, it was just an absolutely amazing article!!!
Dec 8, 2008 7:27 AM
Guest :
I wish our school system was larger so we could do this. We are a one
section school with only 350 kids and there is no way to divide the boys
from the girls. My daughter is always complaining about the boys. The
boys are always complaining about the girls.
Dec 11, 2008 8:44 AM
Guest :
It works on both sides... during my highschool career I watched girls act
very, very stupid in class so that boys would like them, and vice-versa.
Maybe if there were more classes that allowed both genders, unseparated
lunches, etc. the "social" problems would be erased to some
extent. Being a student fresh out of the school system and into a women's
college, though, I can see where students would benefit socially rather
than be damaged. Same sex classrooms reduce the cliques and hierarchy that
champion bad behavior, cruelty and even to some extent stupidity.
Dec 11, 2008 3:30 PM
Guest :
Single gender classes are just wrong. Social skills is something that you
have to learn in life. If they take away the opposite gender then that
takes away some lessons of life.
Dec 12, 2008 6:30 AM
Guest :
To reply to the person who said "Single gender classes are just wrong.
Social skills is something that you have to learn in life. If they take
away the opposite gender then that takes away some lessons of
life."... This is far from true. Single-sex classrooms don't
"take away the other gender", they just separate them for a bit
in order to get business taken care of. Boys are less likely to be oggling
at girls and the other way around. In fact, with separate classes for boys
and girls, after school activities in which boys and girls could
participate together would be encouraged and gain popularity. This will
keep kids socially, physically and mentally active.
There are
simply times when the genders do not mix well. Boys will tease the
"nerds" among them to seem stronger and jealous girls will tear
each other to pieces, figuratively and sometimes literally over boys. I
don't see how that is a "social lesson"
Dec 15, 2008 3:35 PM
Guest :
It may be true that it is discrimination that people think boys learn
differently than girls, but it is also true. But, putting discrimination
aside, boys do learn better in same-sex classrooms.
Dec 27, 2008 8:33 AM
Guest :
I am the mother of a boy and a girl, neither old enough to attend school.
I do not see it as discrimination if children are separated and offered the
same opportunities, if it works, I support it. As the article states,
children will be in coed classes, so long they are not core classes, so
they will get some socialization with the opposite sex. Honestly, I wish I
would have been in same sex classes, because then I would have been less
concerned with the boys and more concerned with why I was
there-learning. Michelle, 25
Feb 17, 2009 4:51 PM
Guest :
people who say single gender classes is just wrong because we need to learn
social skills in life. and for people who say that if they take the
opposite gender away, then that takes away some lessons of life. I totally
disagree with you. School is not the only time we have to socialize with
the opposite sex. I am 16 year old female who is a junior in High School
and i would not mind if they separate us girls from the boys. Boys are very
distracting, no offense to those who have sons. I feel that if we were
separated, then i wouldn't have to worry about boys and trying to impress
them. i could concentrate on school work and getting through high school. i
think that would go the same for boys. Boys spend alot of time fighting
over girls and flirting with girls. i personally feel that boys need to
concentrate on school work and worry about girls and relationships later.
Half of the boys at my school are failing one or more classes because all
they focus on is girls. my whole point is i am all for single gender
classes.
Feb 22, 2009 5:21 PM
Guest :
If I was ever separated from the guys at my school, I would go insane. All
of my close friends are guys. I don't think that girls and boys learn much
differently. I like getting up out of my chair and doing things, but I also
like to sit and talk too. I don't like long lectures from the teacher, who
does?! I think that this is something thats MUCH too thought into. I mean,
come on. Girls and boys are meant to be together. It's almost as bad as
homeschooling! How would we have ANY social skills once we've graduated?
Mar 11, 2009 9:15 AM
Guest :
i think boys and girls shood be together so we can have a beter
relashionship with ech other in the futer
Apr 2, 2009 6:27 PM
Guest :
Yes everyone learns differently, but when girls and boys are in the same
classrooms its their choice as to how they perform. if girls weren't so
distracted by guys and guys distracted by girls it would be easier. I
personally am in high school, and walking through the hallways all you see
are girls wearing shirts that reveal their nipples, skirts that guys look
up because girls wont close their legs, or pants that show the crack of
their butt. or you get the guys who try and dress to impress, they think
they're stunning someone and THEIR NOT!!! I can stand to be away from a guy
because i know that unlike everyone else's kids i don't want to have sex
with everyone of the opposite sex that walks past me! keep your kids under
control and you wouldn't have problems, make them focus on themselves and
not what is passing by
them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 13, 2009 8:03 PM
Guest :
It’s interesting to see that these same people were screaming about
supposed 'unfairness against females’ in the 1970's. The reason the ACLU is
against separate gender classes is because they don't want boys to excel as
they used to before the school system became taylor made (rigged) for
females (feminized) to succeed.
May 14, 2009 12:01 PM
Guest :
i think that separating boys from girls is not smart because who teaches us
the social skills thats needed to speak to girls and boys.I am a 16 guy
thats never had a girl friend or been able to speak to a girls without
making a fool of my self, because i was told only from a bias piont of view
and i haven't been able to understand the problems i don't even have any
friends because i struggle to speak to most people
May 14, 2009 6:34 PM
Guest :
boys and girls need to learn each other at an early age so they know how to
interact with them when they grow older. if they dont know now it is going
to be very hard for them in the future.
May 21, 2009 6:13 AM
Guest :
i go to an all girls school and in primary i went to a mixed school. i
think acedemically it is good for a single sex school, but with a lot of
girls you can get a lot of streotyping and bitching and i think with boys
around there would be less of that perhaps.
May 26, 2009 2:43 PM
Guest :
About the comment that was put on mar 11 2009 thats why we need these
schools that person cant type
May 27, 2009 8:07 PM
Guest :
there shouldnt be single gender schools because in the future,in the real
world, students will be adults.lets say they go to college,they're going to
be interacting with each other.in work they have to talk to each other and
not be shy or show who you really are.
May 27, 2009 8:10 PM
Guest :
you learn social skills in school.when you learn to do projects,you
socialize.you learn social skills as the years fly by
Jun 12, 2009 8:01 AM
Guest :
this is stuped !!!! guys and gril's should stay in the same classes
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jul 4, 2009 5:56 AM
Guest :
It is really an excellent idea,but it is very much necessary to teach the
students the basic meaning of relationship,sexul activities and good
manner.Then this motto will be fulfilled.
Sep 30, 2009 6:39 AM
Guest :
I'm a Freshman at my highschool, and it's all about the competition. Girls
are always fighting over the boys and the boys are always fighting over
girls. And all the girls do is dress slutty and act inappropriately to get
the guys attention. And all the guys blurt out rude comments in class and
get sent to the office or to In School Dentention, and take learning time
away from the rest of the students. Don't take this as me saying guys are
the problem, because it's not. It's both genders trying to impress the
other. And I can honestly say I will not raise my hand to ask a question in
my algebra class because the guy I like is in there. And girls crush on
alot of guys. And when that happens they get all embarrassed and won't
reach out and interate and get the help they need. And the same thing
happens with the guys. I think I would love have all-girl classes. I mean
it might be all drama but I would like to get be educated.
Oct 6, 2009 2:14 PM
Guest :
single sex education might be one of the last ways to stop sexism in our
culture. girls need to be more empowered and confident and when there are
not boys around they feel that way. They don't feel the pressure to
impress or the fear of being harassed. Sexual harassment of girls starts
early and I believe single sex education curbs that greatly, besides it's
not like these kids will never run into someone of the opposite sex right?
Nov 4, 2009 1:47 PM
Guest :
Being a student I would say we should be together. I mean thats how its
always been. I dont want it to change because I just cant see it
differently.
