Single-sex education

History - National• Single-sex was predominant practice before

mid-20th century (tradition advocated by religion.)

• 1960s: Shift to mixed education • 1972: Title IX • 1990s-2000s: Studies show single-sex schools

outperforming mixed. United States: “Together or separate?” (Cornelius Riordan 1990)Germany: “Was coeducation a historical error?” (Der Spiegel 1998)Australia: 20-year study of 270,000 students (2000)England: The National Foundation for Educational Research (2002)France: “The Pitfalls of Mixed Education” (Fize 2003)

History - National

• 2002 law: Public schools can be single-sex.

Single-sex education receives bipartisan support. “Our long-term goal has to be to make single-sex education available as an option for all children, not just for children of parents wealthy enough to afford private schools.” – Hilary Clinton (2001)

• 2002: About a dozen public schools offered single-sex classrooms.

2011-12: More than 506.

Mixed seating

Teacher

History - Local• Christ School (boys) – founded in 1900 as

Episcopal Church coed boarding school. ◦ 248 in grades 8-12◦ Faculty: 53 male, 32 female

• Hanger Hall (girls) – founded in 1999 by a father. ◦ From 3 to 67 in grades 6-8 ◦ Faculty: 11 female

• French Broad River Academy (boys) – founded in 2009 by former Asheville Middle teachers.

Boys vs. Girls

• Christ School headmaster, Paul KriegerSimple differences

• Hanger Hall head of school, Catherine McClainTeaching differently

• Boys: 69F, motion, sound

• Girls: 75F, patience, detail

• Gender difference gap widest at 11

Pros and cons

Pros• Emotionally easier • Girls become more outspoken, boys become more

collaborative• Safety, freedom

Cons• Lack of socialization• Diminished effects of Title IX • Throwback to patriarchal society (not progressive)

• 'We're not sequestered‘ (CS)

Why do it?

For girls

• Expanded educational opportunity

• Tailored education

• Greater autonomy

Why do it?

• From the Hanger Hall website:

“An All-girl School Means…No one is competing for the attention of the ‘cute boy’ Looks are just a part of the picture Individual strengths are more evident”

• Distractions (HH) ‘Learn who you are, first.’

• Expectations (HH)‘Discover your passion.’

Why do it?

For the boys

• Combat growing gender divide in academic achievement.

• Less harassment for ‘Non-macho’ interests.

• Tailored education (Examples?)

Successes • Stetson University – 3 year study of 4th graders

taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (2008)

• 37%• 59%• 75%• 86%

• Some boys who scored proficient in the all-boys classes had previously been labeled ADHD or Exceptional Student

Mixed boysMixed girlsSingle-sex girlsSingle-sex boys

Good fit?• Nationwide: 67 public all-girls schools,

44 public all-boys schools

• 13 North Carolina public schools with single-sex opportunities◦ Woodhill (Gastonia) Elementary School◦ Elizabeth City Middle School◦ Middle College (Greensboro) – all-boys high school launched in 2003.

• Not one-size-fits-all (CS)

Online

• tinyurl.com/4yep3tbChrist School’s Paul Krieger

• tinyurl.com/3g2ahpeHanger Hall’s Catherine McClain

• Questions?edu210teacher.wikispaces.com