Posted on 03/17/2004 7:48:07 AM PST by chance33_98
Improvements seen after middle school goes to single-sex classes
ODENVILLE, Ala. (AP) -- At first, eighth-grader Brandon Music didn't like being in boys-only classes at Odenville Middle School.
An improvement in his grades changed his mind.
"I pay attention a lot more in class," the 14-year-old said. "Don't talk as much as I used to."
Principal Debra Carroll decided to put boys and girls in separate classes after seeing an increase in behavioral problems during the first half of the school year.
"Just lots and lots of real ugly, sexually explicit notes," Carroll said. "If they were writing that in social studies class, I can see why they're not paying attention to what's going on in ancient Rome."
Carroll and Assistant Principal Teresa Arnold had researched single-sex classes and received permission from St. Clair County schools Superintendent Tom Sanders to give them a try. When classes resumed on Jan. 6, boys and girls in the seventh and eighth grades were placed in separate classes for math, science, social studies, literature and English.
The number and distribution of students and teachers happened to work out so that no instructors had to be added, Carroll said Tuesday.
Same-sex classes hadn't been an option for educators since 1975, when the federal anti-discrimination law Title IX was passed. The law prohibited separate classes except in limited cases, such as gym and health classes.
But President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 encouraged educators to look for innovative ways to improve instruction and listed single-sex classes as an example.
The Bush administration also announced earlier this month that it would change its enforcement of Title IX guidelines to make it easier for public school districts to create single-sex classes and schools.
Adrianna Cole, an eighth-grade English teacher at Odenville, said she initially opposed separating boys and girls. She did not expect the improved behavior she has seen.
"They're great," she said. "They're not trying to be cute in front of one another."
Class participation also is up. Eighth-grade math teacher Betty Gunn said she recently had all 127 of her students turn in a homework assignment on time - something she said she had never experienced in 28 years of teaching.
"Too bad this wouldn't work at Harvey Milk HS in SanFran."
Yeah, looks to me like things would stay the same.
This is because the NEA said it would not improve behavior and because she didn't feel it would change behavior. Once teachers get beyond believing what they feel is right in the face of contrary evidence, we will have better schools.
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