Moderator speaking this message pertains to a discussion that occurred in
April on the topic of 'Gender Wars' was begun by AAUW and others. This
message was not posted because EdEquity Listserv received it right before
the Dialogue with the Experts: The Voice of Girls, April 23-May 2, 2001.
What is it about the single gender class issue that raises such ire? For my
money, as a primary (elementary) teacher in Aus., it can be classed merely
as an experiment- to be adopted and adapted as seen fit- or alternatively-
disregarded 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 condemned 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 condemn 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 committing 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 taking 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 Mulligan <dlmul0@rangevilss.qld.edu.au>
"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>
----- Original Message -----
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/
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Susan Smith
<ssmith@edc.org>
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