As far as I am concerned they are illegal. In a case in Michigan the OCR
in
Cleveland has found sex-segregated classes to be illegal, but the
Department
of Ed isn't acting on it just now. I also think that those who are
interested in gender differences (and likenesses) are taking us down a very
dangerous path when they espouse sex segregation. If our goal is
partnership, at home, at school, at work, then we need to use our knowledge
of gender differences (and likenesses) to encourage a healthy environment
that nurtures this sense of partnership in our children.
I think these sort of classes have underlying biases and stereotypes built
into them about how boys and girls learn. We should be helping teachers
who
want to teach only one sex or the other to learn to teach with a variety of
teaching styles and approaches, because both boys and girls learn in a
variety of ways. There are teachers who teach Algebra well to both girls
and boys, why not study their work?
There is really no need to indulge in sex segregated classes. I have
nothing
but praise for the principal.
Liz Homer, Chair
Michigan NOW Education Task Force
Past message posted on EdEquity:
> ...I am an 8th Grade Math/Algebra teacher....I taught at
> least one all-girl 8th grade Algebra class. This year we have a new
principal.
> He did not allow the class to be offered this school year....
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