Thu, Nov 26, 2009

RBUSD begins gender-based algebra pilot study at Adams

by Andrea Ruse
Published July 30, 2009


Some girls at Adam’s Middle School may not need to worry anymore about having their ponytails tugged in class by boys sitting behind them.
Likewise, some boys may find themselves with no ponytails in front of them to tug.
Parents of students at the Redondo Beach school will have the option this fall of signing up their child for math classes separated by gender.
In search of affordable ways to improve student-learning, the Redondo Beach School Board gave its blessing to a gender-based algebra pilot study Tuesday night.
Adams Principal Nicole Wesley presented the board with research into the effects of gender-based programs in students’ academic performance.
The pilot program was enthusiastically backed by Superintendent Steven Keller.
“As a former school principal, I’ve had experience implementing gender-based programs with much success and spotlight in the past,” said Keller. “And there is plenty of research to support such programs.”
Keller’s past successes include gender-based math classes at Nicolas Junior High School in Fullerton and within the Baldwin Park Unified School District.
“At Baldwin Park, we took students who wouldn’t normally be in pre-algebra into a gender-based math acceleration class, the summer before 8th grade” said Keller. “Out of 200 students, all but four accelerated to algebra their 8th grade year.”
The idea of bringing the program to RBUSD came from the district’s “Out-of-the-Box” Committee, a team formed to find creative ways to improve education despite the gloomy state of education funding. For example, gender-based programs do not cost more than traditional mixed gender classes.
Wesley said that research shows distinct differences in learning styles between males and females.
“We want to find out if separating them will benefit them and their grades,” Wesley said.
Wesley showed the board research indicating that “girls prefer to work face to face, discuss, and interact collaboratively,” according to the National Association for Single Sex Public Education. “Boys work better side by side, discuss, and compete.” The same research showed “girls may ‘dumb down’ for boys and let them take charge.”
While Wesley said that the gender-based approach is somewhat controversial, she believes that it yields “girls who are more assertive, not afraid to share and develop opinions and have an innate desire to attend post-secondary schools.”
Keller has seen the differences first-hand.
Walking into a junior high classroom , one may expect to see typical adolescent behavior: teasing, showing off, maybe a spit wad or two. But when separated by gender, Keller has seen something extraordinary.
“In all-girls algebra, you see assertive young ladies taking the lead and sharing knowledge, which typically doesn’t happen with bright girls when boys are around,” said Keller. “In the boys class, you see boys who are not trying to pose, play and secure the attention of females. They actually act pretty business-like.”
The pilot program at Adams will be composed of three algebra classes all taught by the same female teacher: two gender-based courses (one male and one female) and one mixed gender course, which will serve as a control group in the study.
The program’s effectiveness will be assessed through a series of pre- and post- surveys to students and parents, and comparisons of student’s grades, homework-completion rates, and attendance rates.
If all goes as planned, the program will bear results similar to those reported on a nationwide scale, including higher student grades, less classroom discipline, and more self-confidence, according to Wesley.
“I want all of our students to do well,” said Wesley. “But we are hypothesizing that the gender-based classes will show higher interest in math, less fear, and overall better grades.”
Although the curriculum for all three pilot courses will be exactly the same, the hope is that appropriate gender-based learning styles will be able to be incorporated and girl-boy distractions reduced.
School board members expressed some concerns, such as having no male teacher in the pilot study and ensuring that the pilot teacher receives proper training. But overall board members expressed excitement about the program.
“Kudos for looking into this,” said board president Todd Loewenstein. “It sounds great.”
School officials have no immediate plans of branching out into other grades and subjects with gender-based programs. If successful, it may be expanded.
“Let’s start small and go from there,” said Keller.
Enrollment in either of the gender-based courses will be completely optional and on a first-come-first-served basis and students must receive signed parent consent to participate.
If too few students sign up for the gender-based classes, then the pilot program will be cancelled. But in Keller’s experience, parents have seen the value in this type of program. He doesn’t fear lack of parental interest.
“I’d be willing to be we will have more than we can take,” said Keller. “I have yet to see a parent opt out.” ER

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