By gender.
"Public school classes split by gender under fire" by Heather Hollingsworth | Associated Press, July 09, 2012
MIDDLETON, Idaho — Robin Gilbert did not set out to confront gender stereotypes when she split up the boys and girls at her elementary school in rural southwestern Idaho.
But that is exactly what happened, with her Middleton Heights Elementary now among dozens of public schools nationwide being targeted by the American Civil Liberties Union in a bitter struggle about whether single-sex learning should be continued. Under pressure, single-sex programs have been dropped at some schools....
I'm generally for the ACLU, and recognize their contributions; however, at the same time I also recognize their agenda-pushing function of division as well.
Proponents argue the separation allows for a tailored instruction and cuts down on gender-driven distractions among boys and girls, such as flirting. But critics decry the movement as promoting harmful gender stereotypes and depriving children of equal educational opportunities.
They have been trying to stop that for centuries and....
Of course, no need to worry about flirting in a same-sex class because....
The ACLU says many schools offer the classes in a way that conflicts with the Constitution and Title IX, a federal law banning sex discrimination in education.
That piece of paper doesn't seem to matter much when pre$$ure can be applied to a Supreme Court Justice to make him reverse his vote.
Researchers also have weighed in. Diane F. Halpern, a former president of the American Psychological Association, co-wrote a review of studies last fall in the journal Science that found research does not support the benefits of single-sex education.
‘‘Stereotyping increases so we really do have lots of data that says it’s just not supported,’’ she said.
Look, accepted conventional myths abound in our lives these days. We are AmeriKans! Don't bother us with no stinkin' facts!
But proponents have conducted studies, showing the benefits of separating students....
They are taught the same curriculum. They still eat lunch and play at recess together, but the differences in their learning environments are apparent, from blue chalkboards in the boys’ classrooms, to the red paper hearts that decorated one of the girls’ classrooms....
Boys like blue, girls like pink? Yes, the color stereotypes start early.
Dr. Leonard Sax, the founder of the Pennsylvania-based National Association for Single Sex Public Education, said the movement is about breaking down gender stereotypes, not promoting them.
‘‘We want more girls engaged in robotics and computer programming and physics and engineering,’’ Sax said. ‘‘We want more boys engaged in poetry and creative writing and Spanish language.’’
I like to think I'm a creative writer, readers. Of course, try getting a job with a poetry degree.
And those other jobs just don't seem like they are for American kids, know what I mean?
For advocates such as Sax, the increase in this form of learning is exciting, but it is troubling for others.
The ACLU launched a national campaign, Teach Kids, Not Stereotypes, in May and sent cease-and-desist letters to school districts in Maine, West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia....
Kind of acting like a bully, aren't they?
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