Ga. School System to Go Single-sex

Nearly four decades after this rural Georgia county stopped segregating its schools by race, it wants to divide students again - this time by sex.

[Go Greene County]

I think it is a great idea. Go Greene County.

[Just a common man]

I think this is a good idea. But I dont think the basic underlying cause is this. Society as a whole need to see the root cause and fix the real issue.

[LBAtl]

There is no doubt that the school system needs big improvements but I don't think single-sex classrooms is the answer and making the entire system this way is a huge step backwards, not to mention, discriminatory. Certainly, there should be a few public schools available for parents who prefer same-sex teaching but it certainly shouldn't be a mandate for all the children.

[gogreencounty2]

If parents truly want the best for their children they should be willing to do all they can to eliminate any distractions in the classroom. And we all honestly know that in middle and high school the opposite sex is a distraction at that age!!!!

[Augusta1]

Maybe this will shock parents into participating in their children's education. The tone of the board of education remarks and the growth of the county with "upscale residences" seem to point to some other underlying motives for this move.

[Marjani]

YEAH! Go Greene County! Bout time!

[James]

O.K. ACLU. WHERE ARE YOU ?

[Beth]

This is a poor decision. If they are really concerned with how kids learn differently, they should separate based on learning styles, not gender. Can this county guarantee that both schools will receive the same level of education and opportunity?
The problem is not with the schools or the method of teaching...it's with society as a whole. Maybe work environments should be single sexed as well? Less flirting in the workplace equals more productivity, right?

This move is a bad idea...I pray someone with some sense steps in soon...are we sure this isn't an early April Fool's joke?

[GSXR1000Guy]

Just a common man wrote:

I think this is a good idea. But I dont think the basic underlying cause is this. Society as a whole need to see the root cause and fix the real issue.

I agree that Greene County maybe ignoring the root cause of the problem. If grades and test scores improve then great. The question is are we setting these kids up in that they are not learning any life skills. How on earth are they going to deal with the opposite sex in college and the real word if they never learn to deal with them as adolescences?

I am a true believer that education starts in the home. If education is not stressed as important by parents, then every scheme schools attempt will be futile.

[BJS]

I attending school in Bibb County and at that time there was a separation. We had boys high and girls high. My grades were better, the curriculum was better and it was an overall great experience. I applaud Greene County for taking this step. It wouldn't hurt to make it statewide. We might just keep the kids in school and not pregnant.

[Susan]

Why are parents so against it if there is even a possibility that it will help their kids? Afraid they won't be socialized? Give me a break. I wish they would do that in my county! At least male/female classes within the school - this society has been dumbed down enough!

[paul fisher]

I'm originally from the UK, quite a lot of schools are boys or girls only. not just classes, but the entire school building campus. for example you'll have "Carshalton High school for Boys", "Carshalton High school for Girls" , "Wallington High school for Boys" etc etc. seems to work fine there.

[JEH]

I personally don't agree with the decisions being made in Greene County. First, some of the guys' friends could be girls. Some girls' friends could be guys. Most of all, it is unconstitutional. Congress passed a law that ended segregation. Doesn't that go for gender, too?

[Alex]

Yeah, this separation works great in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, all symbols of freedom and good education system. I am sure it will work great in North Georgia as well. What else North Georgia has in common with all these countries: they hate gay people, they believe in state’s right to kill and punish, they do not believe in separation of religion and state, they believe that torture is legal…after all - the list is much longer than Georgians want to believe.
Way to go North Georgia - follow the footsteps of Iran and Saudi Arabia – on yet another issue!!!

[Alex]

Susan wrote:

Why are parents so against it if there is even a possibility that it will help their kids? Afraid they won't be socialized? Give me a break. I wish they would do that in my county! At least male/female classes within the school - this society has been dumbed down enough!

Move to Iran Susan if you like it so much!

[Opinion of a Lady]

Alex wrote:

Yeah, this separation works great in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, all symbols of freedom and good education system. I am sure it will work great in North Georgia as well. What else North Georgia has in common with all these countries: they hate gay people, they believe in state’s right to kill and punish, they do not believe in separation of religion and state, they believe that torture is legal…after all - the list is much longer than Georgians want to believe.
Way to go North Georgia - follow the footsteps of Iran and Saudi Arabia – on yet another issue!!!

I totally agree with you but this is not North Georgia, it's east towards Augusta, Georgia.

[CMM]

Maybe the answer is to have the boys and girls have separate classes in just science and math. Those two subjects seem to be a dividing factor when both sexes are in the same room. The girls don't like to have the boys see them as being smart, and so the girls downplay their ability in both subjects.

[Kb-atlanta]

I AGREE WITH TRYING WHATEVER MAKES IT WORK...IF YOU HAVE EVER SPENT A FULL DAY IN THE SCHOOLS YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT MOST OF THE CHILDREN ARE OUT OF CONTROL. I AM A SINGLE PARENT WHO MAKES IT A POINT TO SPEND AT LEAST 30 - 40% OF TIME VOLUNTEERING AT MY CHILDS SCHOOL. PARENTS DROP THEIR CHILDREN OFF AND THATS THE END OF THAT STORY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL AND UP HOW MANY YOU KNOW WHERE THE MEDIA CENTER IS IN YOUR CHILDS SCHOOL. WE DEPEND ON THE TEACHER TO TEACH, NUTURE, PARENT, COUNSEL AND YES PARENT OUR OWN CHILDREN. ON AN AVERAGE THE TEACHER ONLY TEACHS 40% OF THE DAY AND THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY IS SPENT DONT DO THIS, DONT DO THAT, SIT DOWN, BE QUIET. I ASK FOR YOU TO TAKE A DAY OFF VISIT YOUR CHILDS SCHOOL BY SURPRISE AND SEE WHATS GOING ON BEFORE YOU SAY NOT MY CHILD. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED. THERE ARE SEVERAL SCHOOLS IN THE ATLANTA AREA WHO HAVE ALREADY CONVERTED TO THIS. FIND OUT HOW ITS GOING. NO ONE IS SAYING EVERY CHILD IS A BAD CHILD, BUT WHAT IS BEING SAID IS THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL.

[Kristen]

I was the last person to believe in single sex education until I started attending Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. I was a returning woman attending classes with very bright and motivated young women. I found that these women inspired me to study harder and strive to be the best I could be. The results: graduating Cum Laude at the age of 37 after being out of high school for 17 years. Had I not attended a college of this nature, I do not believe I would have done as well as I had and for that I am extremely greatful. I think if the school district is willing to try something different in order to improve the educational opportunities for its students, they should be applauded. If it does not work, than an alternative can be explored.
Think about all of the pressures that will be relieved. Young women have a difficult enough time being taken seriously, why not give them an opportunity to shine and assist one another to become well educated young women who are prepared for their future. Young men will focus more on their education rather than impressing the girls in their class.
The way I see it, it is a chance to give students a fighting chance in a world that relies so heavily on good education.

[Country Girl]

What would be the harm in doing this as a "pilot"? If you tried it for 2 school terms and the grades improved, then where is the harm in it?