Uninformed Opinion on Single Sex Classrooms
Since it has been in the news a lot lately, and since I've been asked to comment on it, I will.
The truth is, I don't have a solid opinion on this issue yet. As always, there are two sides to the story.
On on hand, a policy that allows single sex public schools could lead to what was once referred to as a "separate but equal" state of education. As we've found and has been solidified in Brown vs. Board of Education, separate but equal is not a valid and sound legal concept. This applies to both race and gender segregation.
However, when one brings the idea of school choice to the table it changes things. If one has the choice to go to a single sex school because it would be a more conducive environment to their own learning style, then that is something I would support. The trick is allowing the choices to be equal for both genders while making sure we do not stereotype the choices that either gender may make.
One complication with this, as seen in a previous entry, is that girl schools could become inherently "feminine" and boys schools could become inherently "masculine." One thing we have to understand is that these lines can be blurry at best. And in addition to that, the possibility exists, for instance, of the de-emphasizing of math skills for girls because of the assumption that men do better at math than women and, as I've discussed, that is a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Also, I do think it is important, for social development purposes, to interact with other students of many different backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders. However, I do see the behavioral benefit for certain students to be in a single sex environment.
I guess my answer is that, simply, it depends.
