Modern Day Segregation

After first being brought up in late 2004 the topic of segregating classrooms or schools based on gender is being brought up again and this time it's hitting close to home. When the topic was first discussed in 2004 only 11 public schools had gender segregated schools in the United States. Now it is a staggering 550 and the number only seems to be growing. In 2008 South Carolina compiled a list of almost 200 public schools with single sex classes. 

The advocates for this single sex education have two major arguments. One being that boys and girls distract each other from their education. Too much time may be spent trying to impress the opposite sex instead of learning. The second argument is that men and women have different learning styles. The founder of the National Association for Single Sex Public Education, Dr. Leonard Sax, is quoted as saying this,

When most young boys are exposed to threat and confrontation, their senses sharpen, and they feel a thrill. When most young girls are exposed to such stimuli, however, they feel dizzy and yucky. With girls [teachers should] speak more softly, use first names, terms of endearment and fewer direct commands

While I wouldn't want any young girls to feel "yucky", I don't believe that separation is the key. This quote is just disgusting on so many levels. Dr. Sax is just enforcing basic gender stereotypes, that girls are delicate little flowers, and boys are rough and tumble. False assumptions based on sex differences usually lead to negative consequences. I don't see how this type of thinking could possibly be good for either sex, or those who are inter-sex for that matter. 

Single sex education can also be seen as problematic. Whether the programs do it purposely or not they will certainly reinforce gender stereotypes, restrict educational opportunities and increase discrimination. The fact that advocates truly believe that in these programs the boys and girls are receiving the same education is unbelievable. Males will undoubtedly be given tools that the girls won't, even if it's just the teacher making them more direct and competitive. This competitiveness that they are learning or embracing is something that the girls won't have a chance to experience in the classroom since it is believed that, that isn't how girls learn, and this directness/competitiveness may give the boys a leg up once they reach the working world. Also seeing that most of the schools are teaching different curriculum is worrisome. The idea of separate but equal was a legal doctrine that justified segregation but as we know from the past separate but equal doesn't really work and isn't plausible. In Brown vs. the Board, the Supreme Court gave a quote that seems extremely pertinent. 

We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.

 I found some pretty amazing articles talking about this issue:

The Daily Beast

New York Times Article

Feminist.org

Paper done by Cornell Law Student