School tests single gender class idea [POLL]

The experiment aims to ascertain whether this will lead to better participation in class activities, develop higher self-esteem in pupils and return better results in tests and exams during early adolescent years.

A report released by the Long Beach USD Office of Research, Planning and Evaluation indicated that student grade averages for males and females, under single gender academy, increased in grade 7 and 8. “The main reason for splitting the classes at Amanzimtoti High School was to assist pupils to focus better on academics and to maximise teaching and learning time,” said principal, Louise Lemmer.
“In the early adolescent years some boys try to impress the opposite sex by clowning around and with macho behaviour. Some girls find it difficult to ask and answer questions at that age in front of boys.”

According to Lemmer, since classes were split, there has been definite evidence that pupils were more comfortable in taking part in discussions of certain topics in certain subjects.

“Some pupils were also more comfortable doing oral work,” she said. “We have experienced an improvement in grade averages in four subjects in grade 8, and grade 9 pupils managed to improve grade averages in five subjects.
There has been very positive feedback from teachers regarding improvement in the teaching and learning environment of the majority of classes in both grades. Learners still mix and socialise – there are a number of activities where pupils mix, including breaks, sport and cultural activities.

The topic of single-gender classes is a controversial one and I do not believe that we have all the answers,” she concluded.
Grade 8 and 9 pupils and their parents will have an opportunity to complete a questionnaire anonymously within the next two weeks regarding their feelings and experiences of the single gender classes. A parent of a grade 8 pupil said she “thinks it’s a wonderful idea and it works so well”.  “Originally my daughter, Mariella was not happy, but once she got used to the idea, she is now much more for it,” said Elizabe Matthews.

“Academically she is doing excellently and her performance is accredited to the class environment. She feels much more openess and it’s easy for them to ask questions.”
Mariella attended the co-ed Warner Beach Preparatory primary school and her parents initially toyed with the idea of putting her in a same-sex high school.
“I was not convinced it was the right idea, and for me this is the best of two worlds.” A parent of another Amanzimtoti High pupil said he had been blind-sided by the decision, which hadn’t been communicated to parents beforehand. He discovered the change when he noticed a difference in his son’s behaviour and queried it.
He has noted a drop in his son’s results and ascribes it to the separation of girls and boys in the class. “I believe this will only benefit the girls,” he said Dr Dudley Forde, former Kingsway High School principal and researcher, who has done studies and read up on same gender classes, believes it is the model to go for.

“Single sex schools do better with exam results and the education system doesn’t take the learning needs of children into consideration.
The whole aspect of education is to produce confidence in boys and girls. In co-ed classes, one sex will always lose out.”