Moderator speaking again this message pertains to an April discussion on
'Gender Wars' was begun by AAUW and others. Sue Sattel is responding Debbie
Mulligan, Peggy Weeks and Susan Smith's statement.
It is not a new idea or merely a different teaching strategy to
sex-segregate. Girls weren't able to go to school for years. No one is
opposed to social experimentation, well, we would all be opposed to
Germany's, etc., but, that is not what we mean. Many girls and many boys
learn in the same ways - and yes, smaller class sizes and cooperative
learning are strategies that enhance learning, but it is not regressive to
resist "separate but unequal" as a concept. Yes boys commit suicide in
greater numbers, because their depression has gone undiagnosed and
untreated
and because they choose effective tools to do it - guns, ropes, etc. But,
more girls try suicide than boys, with less effective tools, so, suicide
prevention and treatment, and harassment, bullying, and abuse prevention
and
intervention is a better remedy than sex-segregation in school. Yes, more
boys drop out, although Hispanic girls drop out at a high rate too, so,
what
strategies can we employ to keep them interested or re-interest them in
school. More active hands on learning - photography, etc, over worksheets,
would be one strategy. Not having girls around is a questionable solution.
You seem to be saying that girls don't hang out with girls, now, and that
boys don't hang out with boys now - but, as a teacher you know that isn't
so
- it is the mixing that provides the richness of perspective we so sorely
need in the workplace, in relationships, etc. Try to separate the political
agenda involving Title IX of a small group of people from the
social/educational agenda you know as an educator and you'll see why all
the
fuss. And remember our history - when we, and slaves, couldn't be taught
to
read and write, and what is going on in Afghanistan as we speak if you want
to know why people are so interested in non sex-segregation.
Sue Sattel
<Sue.Sattel@state.mn.us>
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