Georgia District Approves Single-Sex Education
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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 2/27/2008 2:05:00 PM
Don’t expect to see Dick and Jane sitting in the same class if they’re attending Georgia’s Greene County school district. In a unanimous vote, the school board recently approved a plan to separate all classes by gender at the beginning of the 2008-2009 academic year.
While some school districts have experimented with single-sex classes, this may mark the first time that an entire public school system has converted to single-sex education, says the district. The move only exempts a public charter school that operates independently from the rest of the system.
Why such drastic measures? School officials say the decision is needed to save the low-performing district from slipping further behind. “By converting our schools to single gender academies, we expect student achievement and college acceptance will increase, and discipline rates, teen pregnancy, and dropout rates will decrease,” says Superintendent Shawn McCollough.
A letter to parents signed by McCollough says the district spent the last several months conducting research and speaking with experts on single gender schools and uniforms. “The facts are undeniable,” the letter says. “More and more throughout the United States, single gender schools are being implemented in communities like Greene County, and it’s working. A uniform dress code and single gender classes positively impact school culture and student performance.” The letter went on to say that although students will be separated by gender, all will receive equal opportunities and services.
“Thinking outside of the box simply isn’t enough,” McCollough says. “You actually have to do something outside of the box. If the single gender format is good enough for our finest private and charter schools, then why wouldn’t it be good enough for our public schools?”
