2006-08-10

jackofallgeeks: (Decepticons)
2006-08-10 10:06 am

Single-Sex Schooling

"If you don't understand gender differences, you end up furthering gender stereotypes."

This is an interesting article because of the gender-issues it touches on. Though I'll have to read further on to decide what I think about the school system in question (I have a rather low opinion of education -- not to be confused with learning -- in general), I've always believed there are intrinsic hard-wired differences between boys and girls, and in light of that this seems to be a reasonable move. At the same time, though, I think one of the deficiencies in the current school system is the stratification of grades; that is, 12-year olds only ever interact with other 12-year olds, etc. One of the most beneficial experiences I had in homeschooling, in my opinion, was the regular interaction with people much older and much younger than myself. I hate the word 'diversity' because it's become so loaded, but there's something to be said, I think, for exposure to other people who think and act in ways and for reasons that are different from your own. Put another way, it may be the case that single-sex classes work and are a great improvement for learning, but even at that boys and girls should have significant enough exposure to each other.

I'll read this later and think on it more.
jackofallgeeks: (Decepticons)
2006-08-10 02:41 pm

Mood swing

I'm achingly sad all of a sudden.