benefits

= RAHS Note Page =

Source
Matthew McGowan Odessa American, Texas. "Gender based courses." //McClatchy - Tribune Business News//. 25 Oct. 2009 //eLibrary//. Web. 04 May. 2010.

http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/elibweb/elib/do/document?set=search&dictionaryClick=&secondaryNav=&groupid=1&requestid=lib_standard&resultid=4&edition=&ts=16FBB261A058EAD32E7B46F43A4F5691_1272985111126&start=1&publicationId=&urn=urn%3Abigchalk%3AUS%3BBCLib%3Bdocument%3B172345148

Summary/Direct Quote
t Bowie, principal Denise Shetter said the program -- in conjunction with a host of other pilot programs at the school -- has tentatively been regarded as successful, particularly for lower- performing students.

In addition to an overall 8 percent increase in passing rates at Bowie, students on average witnessed an increase of 1.3 letter grades -- meaning the average student with a high C average or lower moved up to a low A -- but this was mostly exclusive only to the school's low-performing demographic

//**In a mixed classroom, Thompson said, sometimes boys, acting on the belief they are supposed to be the academic and social leaders of the classroom, take control of the class, thus marginalizing the girls sitting next to them.

"What happens is that its OK for a boy to be smart and to know the answers to things, but girls sometimes feel that if they're the smartest ones in** ** class then they'll be teased or picked on or something by boys, and they want to fit into that," he said. "Sometimes boys are a little bit more out of control that girls are. So by removing the boys from the classroom, you get rid of that."**//

Spencer Thompson, a developmental psychologist and the chair of psychology and child and family studies at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, said research shows that the gender - segregated courses have produced positive results in some areas -- and, notably, they've garnered the wide support of teachers, principals and parents

"I do see them coming out with more questions about stuff," she said. "They just have this little insecurity when the boys are here. But when they're not, they're just not afraid to ask questions and get into the discussion. Girls concentrate more without boys. I can kind of count on them, give them a task, and they'll get to it. The boys, I have to give them a task and keep them engaged while they're here."

Yet another upside to the program, one that applies to both girls and boys, removes the self-consciousness and gender -centric distractions that sometimes restrict learning within mixed classrooms, Shetter said.

"It helps me to learn more if I don't have boys in the classroom," said seventh-grader Erin Subia, who said "mostly all" of her classes are gender -segregated.

"Yeah," added seventh-grader Jl' Aysia Blaylock. "It's better without them."