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Subject: Mich. Proposes Same-Sex Science, Math Classes E/P NBS#1803
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NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF STATE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS COALITIONS
News Brief #1803 Category: Education Policy
TITLE: "Science, math class may divide"

A Michigan legislator has introduced a bill that would allow middle
schools to divide math and science classes by gender. State Senator
Michael Switalski said his intent is to prod schools to provide more
options for students and parents.

Carolyn Witte, principal of the all-girls Mercy High School in Farmington
Hills, applauds the measure, saying same-sex education can make math and
science more "accessible" to girls by eliminating social pressures.

But opponents argue that closing girls off in separate classrooms sends a
damaging message: they can't cut it against the boys. "To say one gender
cannot learn in a classroom with another is out-and-out sexism," said
Margaret Trimer-Hartley, spokeswoman for the Michigan Education
Association, the state's largest teachers union.

According to the state education department, studies about the learning
effects of same-sex classrooms have turned up mixed results. But some
school officials say they believe putting boys and girls together
stimulates greater interest in math and science.

"Sometimes, gender competition, if you will, turns out to be productive -
and it's real-world," said Robert Freehan, spokesman for Warren
Consolidated schools.

SOURCE: Detroit News, 04 February 2003
WEBSITE: http://www.detnews.com/2003/schools/0302/04/c01-76674.htm

-----------------------------------------------
The NASSMC Briefing Service (NBS) is supported by the National Security
Agency (NSA) and ExxonMobil Foundation. Briefs reflect only the opinions,
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<p><font size=2 face="sans-serif">NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF STATE SCIENCE AND
MATHEMATICS COALITIONS<br>
News Brief #1803 Category: Education Policy &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
TITLE: &quot;Science, math class may divide&quot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>
<br>
A Michigan legislator has introduced a bill that would allow middle schools
to divide math and science classes by gender. State Senator Michael Switalski
said his intent is to prod schools to provide more options for students
and parents. <br>
<br>
Carolyn Witte, principal of the all-girls Mercy High School in Farmington
Hills, applauds the measure, saying same-sex education can make math and
science more &quot;accessible&quot; to girls by eliminating social pressures.
<br>
<br>
But opponents argue that closing girls off in separate classrooms sends
a damaging message: they can't cut it against the boys. &quot;To say one
gender cannot learn in a classroom with another is out-and-out sexism,&quot;
said Margaret Trimer-Hartley, spokeswoman for the Michigan Education Association,
the state's largest teachers union. <br>
<br>
According to the state education department, studies about the learning
effects of same-sex classrooms have turned up mixed results. But some school
officials say they believe putting boys and girls together stimulates greater
interest in math and science. <br>
<br>
&quot;Sometimes, gender competition, if you will, turns out to be productive
- and it's real-world,&quot; said Robert Freehan, spokesman for Warren
Consolidated schools. <br>
<br>
SOURCE: Detroit News, 04 February 2003 &nbsp; <br>
WEBSITE: http://www.detnews.com/2003/schools/0302/04/c01-76674.htm<br>
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">-----------------------------------------------<br>
The NASSMC Briefing Service (NBS) is supported by the National Security
Agency (NSA) and ExxonMobil Foundation. Briefs reflect only the opinions,
findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the source articles.
Click http://nbs.nassmc.org to SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, or FIND archived NBS
briefs. Click http://www.nassmc.org for information about NASSMC. Permission
is granted to re-distribute NBS briefs in unmodified form, including header
and footer.<br>
</font>

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