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Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Separating boys and girls
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clayton schools Superintendent John Thompson is considering offering more single-sex programs as a way to improve student learning.
The school district started its first single-sex program this school year with an all-male academy at North Clayton and enrolled a small group of sixth- and seventh-graders.
Separating boys and girls has long been used by private schools, but it has increased in popularity in public schools over the last few years.
Many superintendents and school boards see this as way to “reform” struggling schools. Some create single-gender classes, while others create single-sex schools.
Atlanta Public Schools broke its old Carson Middle — a historically low-performing school — into two different programs. Starting last school year boys attended the B.E.S.T. (Business, Education, Science and Technology) Academy, while girls attend the Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy.
Ivy Preparatory Academy, an all-girl charter school in Gwinnett County, opened this school year and is expected to grow quickly.
Just because separating the genders is popular doesn’t mean it will work. Is this a step in the right direction or a fad we will regret in a few years?
