Boys and Girls, Taken from Rocky's post

Robbie's middle school is starting to devide the classes into boys and girls because they say they learn differently. Who would have thought.

I just thought about this reading Rocky's post about the boy she watches, and how he's more a hands on learner.

Isn't that kind of sexist? I've never heard of dividing a class like that! In my HS they started a trial where girls could elect to take a girls-only math class but even so the guys should have had that option also - Are there still co-ed classes as well?

I've heard talk here and there about doing something like that here and it didn't go over very well.

I think it is a great idea!

Trouble with boys
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10965522/site/newsweek/

I'm a little on edge with it as well. I don't think there's going to be enough socialization between the two groups which I think is very important.

They will be doing their elective classes from what I understood (things like sewing, woodworking etc) together, but core subjects like math, LA, etc will be devided. They also there will be plenty of opportunity for socialization through lunch (although it's only half an hour), assembly's (which normally you can't talk through), and school trips.

Is it sexist or brilliant?

It's true that boys and girls learn differently. It's in the wiring. However, I think it deserves some study in order to determine whether some of the peripheral groups are going to be adversely affected by segregating boys and girls. I don't know if it's sexist or not. I also don't know if segregation is wise in the long run in public education. I acutally think studies in this area should be done in larger, diverse private schools before any big changes are made to public education.

There may be other ways to handle this. For instance, lecture classes could be mixed gender, and labs could be tailored to boys' and girls' learning strengths. I suspect you'd find some girls learn better with the boys and vice versa. This could never occur in a public school and be accepted without proof it would work, which is why I suggest it be studied in private schools, where such non-mainstream educational techniques are more accepted.

Is it sexist or brilliant?

It's true that boys and girls learn differently. It's in the wiring. However, I think it deserves some study in order to determine whether some of the peripheral groups are going to be adversely affected by segregating boys and girls. I don't know if it's sexist or not. I also don't know if segregation is wise in the long run in public education. I acutally think studies in this area should be done in larger, diverse private schools before any big changes are made to public education.

There may be other ways to handle this. For instance, lecture classes could be mixed gender, and labs could be tailored to boys' and girls' learning strengths. I suspect you'd find some girls learn better with the boys and vice versa. This could never occur in a public school and be accepted without proof it would work, which is why I suggest it be studied in private schools, where such non-mainstream educational techniques are more accepted.

I did forget to say, that this will be a study in Robbie's school. It will be ongoing for at least the next 3 years. Either way, he's going to there at the beginning and the end of the study. The principle assured us they have done a lot of research on this, and have attended many lectures on the idea, and how to teach.

That's kind of dumb.

I wouldn't stand for it. If I wanted my kids to go to a school where both sexes were segregated, I'd send them to one. Tween years are among the most important ones to develop inter-sex relationships... duh... like as if 30 minutes in a day is enough.

There have been a few California schools doing this as a trial for a long time now and the results are amazing from what I have heard. I would have never thought of it either, because it does sound kind of...unpolitically correct, persay. But, if kids can learn better that way, why not!? I does make sense. Boys and girls are hardwired so differently. I kind of like the idea personally.

Added: in these trial schools, they do mix the classes together for certain portions of the day so it is not all totally seperated. Plus, after much thinking...if I had a daughter, what better way to keep her away from the boys? Boys are trouble anyways! Distracting to say the least.

This post has been edited by TannerBugsMom on Sep 14 2006, 11:11 AM

Research supports seperating girls and boys to eliminate the obvious distractions but one's sex doesn't mean one learns in the same way. They be better off determining each child's learning style and teaching accordingly. Maybe someone should give them a book or two by Cythia Tobia or Dr. Mel Levine.

I am all for introducing different teaching techniques...and having those options. ...I think that boys and girls do learn differently. I don't however think that they should really seperate them....because all children are individuals....I think a better plan would be to let them chose which class to take based on how they learn.

You wouldn't want your son to be in a hands on class...if that is not how he learns best...right?

This post has been edited by mckayleesmom on Sep 16 2006, 04:47 PM

Actually I think its a pretty good idea!!!

I STILL like the idea too.

I think it is a good idea also. I know that I would have learned more if there were only girls in the class. The boys were too fun to watch.

I like the idea. I think that it would be beneficial for the students, and they would still get to be around the opposite sex during breaks, etc.