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IN FOCUS: ARTICLE |
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Girls' Side, Boys' Side
by Jon Platner, 03.28.03
"I couldn't imagine going to a single-sex school. Some of my best friends are guys." |
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Kelly and Carlos are joined at the hip! Best friends since the sixth grade, they do everything as a pair — eat lunch, go to the mall, watch television. And each year at school, they make sure to take some classes together.
But this term will present some challenges. Kelly and Carlos signed up for many of the same courses, yet their schedules are completely different. Why? Like several other public schools, theirs has decided to start having separate classes for guys and girls.
The Facts
Many private schools have advocated single-sex education for a long time, and now the idea's spreading to public schools, too:
- Sixteen single-sex public schools are now up and running in the U.S.
- Some of these are all-boys or all-girls schools — others are combined schools where boys and girls are separated just for classes.
- About 40-50 additional co-ed public schools offer single-sex classes, but don't make them mandatory.
So, what's the appeal?
Pay Attention!
Believe it or not, many students like being in single-sex schools. "I go to an all-girls school, and I love it," says Alexis, 16. "I learn what I need to in class instead of writing notes to guys."
Eric, a college student who attended an all-boys high school, agrees. "A lot of my friends at co-ed schools teased me," he explains, "but I think I had an easier time concentrating in class because I didn't have to worry about impressing girls."
Of course, for teens who aren't attracted to the opposite sex, these issues probably don't apply.
The Social Scene
What about the level of social interaction between the sexes? That's definitely a concern for Jill, who attends a co-ed high school. "I couldn't imagine going to a single-sex school," she says. "Some of my best friends are guys."
Some schools try to find a happy medium — in combined schools, boys and girls are able to interact between class periods, and many all-girls and all-boys schools partner with each other for co-ed activities. Alexis' school, for example, partners with an all-boys school for lunch everyday, and she thinks that's enough.
But some still argue that socializing is just as important inside the classroom as it is outside. "I never got to hear the girls' point of view in my classes," says Alan, who attended an all-boys school. "In the real world," he argues, "guys and girls have to work together and learn from each other."
Stereotypes
And what about the issue of gender National Coalition of Girls' Schools, describes single-sex schools and classes as "incubators of innovation" that promote all areas of thinking. "Single-sex education," she says, "encourages students to pursue subjects they're interested in, and not self-select themselves out of ones that are traditionally more male or female."
But others argue that single-sex education could actually reinforce gender stereotypes. "If a co-ed public school suddenly began to separate girls and boys for classes, it could send the message that boys are better than girls in some subjects, and vice versa," says Jamie Fasteau, senior lobbyist for the American Association of University Women. "That could have the effect of locking girls and boys out of certain professions."
What Happens Now?
The debate continues, with teens and adults on both sides making convincing arguments. Those in favor are currently pushing for legislation that would make it easier for public schools to go single-sex, while those opposed are pressuring politicians to reject the idea.
And what about Kelly and Carlos? "I guess we'll just have to deal," says Kelly. "We're used to seeing each other all the time in school, but we'll have plenty of other opportunities to hang out. To be honest, I'm curious to see if my grades will actually improve!" |
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