When I said that girls tend to fare better in math and science in single-sex environments, I was referring to the social pressures put on each gender to perform in a certain way. It has nothing to do with ability and a huge amount to do with the way that we're treated.
While I never felt myself hindered or put down in areas of math and science by my parents or close friends, I did experience some very serious negligence in my later years in math. Neither my condition nor the previous woman's comment can be generalized, but data does show that what we know to be socially constructed attitudes towards girls can cause a lack of confidence and attention in those areas. Therefore, overall lower achievement is the trend.
It has nothing to do with ability, but rather the overall ways that we're told to learn that hinder us.
South Carolina is leading the way in experimenting with sexually segregated classrooms for middle and high school students but the classes that are offerred for boys and girls seem to be based on archaic gender "norms" that provide the boys with more team work and hands on learning, while the girls learn to evaluate cosmetic products for science.
Although I've always been unsure on how the affects of sex segregated schools and classrooms might influence how the children educated in them are able to deal with the opposite sex later in life in both professional and social situations, I've always found it somewhat appealing.
It isn't because of my thoughts on gender differences, or lack thereof, but because of the way that interactions between the sexes often distracts students from the primary goal--education. It may not be a panacea but in a single sex school or classroom, I'd think that some students of each sex would spend less time thinking about their appearance and would be less self concious when it comes to class discussions and extra curriculars, leading them to be more assertive in their strenghts and more likely to overcome their weaknesses.
Another non-trivial matter it could help ease is the prevalence of sexual harrassmet girls are often subjected to in schools. It's something that is common, often happens right under the teachers' noses but rarely gets reported and adequately dealt with. If girls are being sexually harrassed in school, they're more likely to suffer personally and academically.
Studies have also shown that girls tend to fare better in girl only environments, although unfortunately the results aren't as positive for boys in single sex schools.
I would still be interested to see how something like this works out in the state but without the difference in curriculum. I'm surprised that they're giving such different standards and lessons for each sex, especially right from the start.
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While I never felt myself hindered or put down in areas of math and science by my parents or close friends, I did experience some very serious negligence in my later years in math. Neither my condition nor the previous woman's comment can be generalized, but data does show that what we know to be socially constructed attitudes towards girls can cause a lack of confidence and attention in those areas. Therefore, overall lower achievement is the trend.
It has nothing to do with ability, but rather the overall ways that we're told to learn that hinder us.