What is it about the single gender class issue that raises such ire? For my
money, as a primary (elementary) teacher in Australia it can be classed
merely as an experiment- to be adopted and adapted as seen fit- or
alternatively- disgarded if not. Surely as educators, it is our duty to try
different teaching strategies. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to
try to improve society. Without social experimentation in some form or
other we are condemed to the dark ages where suspicion of anything new or
different was an anathma. If this means we give the single gender
classroom a go for a set time, so be it. I personally think that
educationally it has no immediate advantage- I think it has been researched
and proven that smaller class sizes go a long way to improving children's
quality of education. But what about socially? Should we condem this
strategy because it separates the sexes and someone thinks that somehow
this gives one gender an unfair advantage over another?? Come on.What's
wrong with boys getting together with other boys and girls getting together
with other girls? What's the big secret some people are scared of missing
out on. Australian- and global- statistics indicate that boys are NOT doing
as well as girls educationally. BOYS- not boys from a certain background or
of a certain ethic/ sexual persuasion- although I admit these are
inhibiting factors and should be taken into consideration. But generally
BOYS are commiting suicide at a higher rate than girls, BOYS are dropping
out of school and not entering university in comparison with girls, BOYS
comprise over 80% of the school violence and exclusions. These are
undisputable facts--well researched and borne out in our media daily. We're
not talking about murderers and rapists here, we're talking boys who have
lost their way both socially and academically and I for one as a mother of
a boy and a girl and as an educator of boys and girls think it's time we
rethought the whole concept of equality and just get on with experimenting
with ways to fix the problem. It's not the boys' problem- it's society's.
Debbie
dlmul0@rangevilss.qld.edu.au
http://www.rangevilss.qld.edu.au/
Past messages posted on EdEquity about 'Gender Wars' was begun by AAUW and
others
"Peggy Weeks" <mdweeks@earthlink.net> wrote:
I take strong issue that the so-called gender war was begun by AAUW. The
rivalry between those who support feminism and those who do not proceeded
that report by decades. Enough misinformation is out there as it is.
Gilligan's research did not trigger the discussions either. She was
proceeded by other researchers who were looking at ethics long before her
time. This article strongly implies that these two elements (AAUW and
Gilligan) were responsible for somehow starting a war. Enough. They were
no more responsible than were those who chose to miscast what was being
saidto suit their own political agenda. The issue goes way beyond Gilligan
and
AAUW.
Peggy Weeks
<mdweeks@earthlink.net>
From: Susan Smith <ssmith@edc.org>
Subject: [EDEQUITY] Educators Urge End to Classroom 'Gender Wars'
Education:Educators Urge End to Classroom 'Gender Wars'
By Sarah Stewart Taylor - WEnews correspondent> WASHINGTON (WOMENSENEWS)
--Experts on the educational experiences of girls and boys say the gender
wars in the American classroom should be called off and more emphasis
should be placed on broader gender roles and expectations for both
sexes..............................
Sarah Stewart Taylor is a free-lance writer in Washington, D.C., also
reporting on New England. For more information, visit:
American Association of University Women: - http://www.aauw.org/
> American Association of University Women reports: -
> http://www.aauw.org/2000/research.html
> Wellesley Centers for Women: - http://www.wcwonline.org/
> Urban Institute: - http://www.urbaninstitute.org/
> __________________________________________________________________
> Copyright 2000 Women's Enews. The information contained in this
> Women's Enews report may--with the prior written authorization of
> Women's Enews--be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
> distributed. To obtain permission, reply to this email and provide
>
> Susan Smith
>
>
>
>
>
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