KINGSTREE –Williamsburg County District School Board voted to discontinue the single gender education program currently in place at Kingstree Middle with a vote of three for, two opposed and one abstention.
Those who opposed the program said sufficient evidence did not exist to justify the method of education’s continuance. Others speaking in favor of single gender pointed out that the program was working and if given more time, additional statistics would support that claim.
This was not the first time the topic been brought before the Board. On July 27 initial arguments were heard both for and against the issue. Discussion at that time focused on the overall development between the genders and what role that plays in class room learning.
The philosophy behind the technique is that students are able to focus more intently on lessons when members of the opposite sex are not around. According to some statistic presented, a female’s brain capacity is further developed than a males earlier on in life. Therefore, the males learn at different rates than females and should be put in settings conducive to that end.
While several arguments were made against single gender education, two that were addressed by the Board focused on the issues of gender stereotypes and necessity of gender interaction during the teenage years. Vice-Chairperson Norma D. Bartelle said that when see observed the program in action at Kingstree Elementary, she saw students being reinforced the likes and dislikes of each gender.
“The boys would answer question when they were thrown a football,” she said. “While the girls would answer by sitting face to face.”
Bartelle complained that such methods enforced the idea that boys like sports and girls enjoy conversing and gossiping.
Another argument presented by Board skeptics proposed that reducing classrooms to a single gender slows the maturation process of some students. Board member Charles Garner, District used that argument as a cornerstone for his opposition at the July 27 meeting.
“We live in a society where every has to get along with everyone, if they can’t learn it while they are in middle school, when are they learn it?” Garner asked. “They are in middle school. This is a very crucial juncture in their developmental stage… ‘Single Gender’ doesn’t do anything for that. There are other programs.”
The District gained state, and even national, attention for the program at Kingstree Middle School, most recently with the actions of Charleston County Schools, who made a commitment to expand their single gender program already in existence.
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