Boy Brains, Girl Brains - Are separate classrooms the best way to teach kids?

Newsweek ^ | Sept. 19, 2005 | Peg Tyre

[ryan71]

Three years ago, Jeff Gray, the principal at Foust Elementary School in Owensboro, Ky., realized that his school needed help—and fast. Test scores at Foust were the worst in the county and the students, particularly the boys, were falling far behind. So Gray took a controversial course for educators on brain development, then revamped the first- and second-grade curriculum. The biggest change: he divided the classes by gender.

[Borges]

No. Kids need to learn to interact with the opposite sex.

[76834]

Wasnt aware that girls even HAD brains.

Now putting flame suit on while running for cover.

[squarebarb]

Excellent. Should have hjappened a long time ago.

In the 80's I had a friend who went to an all-girls' Catholic school and she said it was the best time of her life. Empowering.

[doodad]

LOL run man.

[Tax-chick]

Are separate classrooms the best way to teach kids?

Sometimes. Depends on the children, the teachers, and the curriculum.

[Killborn]

Tinfoil mode - By separating by sex, the homo-pedophiles will have easier access to sexualizing, brainwashing, and abusing the children.

[DGray]

I see nothing in this article to suggest that the kids are kept totally separated all the time, like at recess and on the bus, which is when most of the interaction takes place anyway.

Education separated by gender has been practiced for thousands of years. Even today there are plenty of all-boy and all-girl private schools. What's wrong with trying it in the public schools? If the kids seem to learn better, what's so wrong about it?

[Logophile]

No. Kids need to learn to interact with the opposite sex.

Learning to interact with the opposite sex does not have to happen in the classroom.

[Clock King]

Depends on age and maturity, and that changes over time: young ones (< ~10) is OK, puberty age, separate is better for some kids, young adult, separate maybe for certain fields (military for instance, Marines have the right approach - separate in basic, then together for specialization).

[mtbopfuyn]

My daughter, an honor student, finally got what I'd been telling her for years - get into honors classes, get into honors classes. She came in Monday complaining her only class that isn't honors (there is no honors science offered) is full of idiots, slackers, and trouble makers. They interrupt class and are distractions to those who want to learn. I say if there's any division of groups, start with the kids who want an education from those who want to cause problems.

[flyonthewall]

Well, yeah we have them. But we carry ours in our HEADS. You guys just used to carrying yours in your pants! *G*

[ryan71]

What I find encouraging is that some (but still not enough)leaders in our education system are accepting there are biological differences in boys and girls. No, they're not the same sex.

[Redbob]

"Learning to interact with the opposite sex does not have to happen in the classroom."

Perzackly!

Now what do we do about teachers of one gender - oh, say, female for example - who are prejudiced against students of another gender - say, little boys, just for the sake of argument?

[doodad]

I say if there's any division of groups, start with the kids who want an education from those who want to cause problems

I second that motion.

[mtbopfuyn]

I see nothing in this article to suggest that the kids are kept totally separated all the time, like at recess and on the bus

Except most elementary schools have done away with recess and they are assigned seats on the bus.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Kids need to learn to interact with the opposite sex."

And that's how they make more kids.

[JmyBryan]

More hermaphrodite oppression ...

[76834]

LOL
I wrote that while watching Judge Judy.

Should be the next nominee for the Supreme Court.

[pa mom]

My guys are in an all boys school. Love it. Fewer distractions. And believe me, they meet girls. There is a sister school. 'Nuf said.