The L.A. Times today featured a story about how children do better in single-gender schools. That is to say, boys seem to do better when studying with boys and girls seem to do better when studying with girls. Ok, so the logical conclusion is what? Segregate children by gender to maximize their learning?
Sure, that's what "we" did after the American Civil War with black children. It was supposed that children would learn better with "their kind" and so we implemented the "Jim Crow Laws" which are also referred to as "Separate, but equal." Right, that worked didn't it?
Of course it didn't. The "white" schools got far superior materials and attention. The "colored" schools were largely ignored. They got, if they were lucky, hand-me-downs.
So, should we forget that failed experiment and rush to single-gender education? Surely, "separate-but-equal" will work THIS TIME?
It won't. If you don't believe me, take a look at the different conditions of boys' and girls' sports. By law (Title IX) athletic activities for boys and girls must both be funded equally (get it? Separate, but equal?) Go ahead, pick a school, and let's see how much the boys' football team gets and how much the all the girls' sports put together are funded. If it's like most schools, the football program, by itself, is far larger than everything for the girls.
Now researchers are supposing that single-gender education will have some other outcome besides a modern-day "Jim Crow", a "Jane Crow" if you will. Bunk!
Oh sure, it will start off innocent enough. The girls' school might want to spend more on some subject. Then, the boys might spend more on some other. Maybe it will be "metal shop". They might do a survey and find a different amount of interest between the two genders. Of course, that's all innocent enough, who could complain? ME! (and hopefully YOU TOO). Because as the two separate-but-equal schools start down their different paths, the gulf will widen. Just as it has with sports.
The only way around this? (and, not coincidentally, the way to address the findings of these researchers) is to find out why children studying under our current system seem to do better when segregated. That difference is the symptom, not the goal. Are the girls being slighted by the teachers? Are the boys being given preferences? Do the different sexes learn things in different ways? (don't we ALL?). Find out what we're doing wrong AND FIX IT!
Links: L.A. Times