separating girls/boys in math/science classes?

[mamatoady]

I live in a small town of less than 500. I never wanted to send my daughter to the school here, so I guess this isn't crucial information I'm looking for, but I am very curious about it. I recently found out that the school separates the boys from the girls in all science and math classes from junior high through high school. Does this make sense? Is this from NEW research or are they so back-asswards here that they're pulling research from 1936 and calling it relevant. The only response I could get from anyone I know is that "boys and girls learn differently" which i suppose I can't really disagree with, but wouldn't some girls learn "like boys" and vice versa? Can they really cater to teaching a gender 6th through 12th grades?

Sarah

[Itlbokay]

There was just a huge article on this in a recent paper in my area. It went further, talking about seperating them all together.

I believe they are trying to cater to the way a lot of girls/boys learn differently. Your school sounds ahead of it's time, or the times have caught up with it.

I prefer the idea of seperating students by ability. My boys excel in all areas of school, they are woefully underchallenged and could greatly benefit from being in a class that has more than just a few high achieving students.

[Itlbokay]

Originally Posted by mamatoady

but wouldn't some girls learn "like boys" and vice versa?
Sarah

That is exactly right. It helps in some ways to seperate them, but then there's always the male/female student that doesn't learn exactly as studies try to indicate. That is what I was trying to express about my boys in my last post.

[BathrobeGoddess]

The recent evidence suggests that it is less about the way they learn and more about the fact girls are more likley to take risks in class (answer a question, lead a small group, etc.) if they are in a female only enviroment and that this is even more important in classes where girls feel that it is a boys subject like science and math.

Now, the real worry about this is that the girls and boys will get very different instruction and that the girls will be slighted.

[A&A]

If they're doing this, then they should separate the English classes, too (obviously just as much a "core" subject as math and science.) The boys will learn better in an English class without the girls. Yes, it's "new" research, not just old.

[Itlbokay]

Originally Posted by BathrobeGoddess

The recent evidence suggests that it is less about the way they learn and more about the fact girls are more likley to take risks in class (answer a question, lead a small group, etc.) if they are in a female only enviroment and that this is even more important in classes where girls feel that it is a boys subject like science and math.

Now, the real worry about this is that the girls and boys will get very different instruction and that the girls will be slighted.

I feel that if the reasons for seperation aren't balanced by the needs of both sexes and/or their abilities, one or the other will always be slighted.

Sarah, If it were me, I would go visit the school, make an appointment with the principal, and find out how/why this came to be their practice. Any principal who cares about their school, and would like it to be a place where a parent will want to send their child, should be pleased to try and give you any information you need to do so.

Some of my questions would be ones such as, how has this benefited the students? Are both sexes doing equally well? Also, as A&A suggested why just math and science? If it is indeed for the girls, then why are some of the boys being slighted when it comes to language arts? As a lot of research indicates that females usually excel, but not always, in that subject?