July 17, 2012
In the Media
Could
Public, Single-Sex Schools Make A Comeback?
By Dan Mauzy
Radio Boston
July 16, 2012
Excerpt:
Single-gender schools have long been established in the private
school system — and many such schools here in Massachusetts, such
as Roxbury Latin (all boys) and Winsor (all girls), are very well
respected.
The public school system is a different story: current law
prohibits single-sex public schools in Massachusetts.
But Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Boston Public School
Superintendent Carol Johnson have been pushing to change that, and
just last week Beacon Hill lawmakers gave initial approval to
legislation that would permit single-sex public schools in
Massachusetts.
Proponents say men and women learn differently, and that
single-gender schools would provide a better learning environment
by cutting down on distractions. Others say that schools like
Roxbury Latin and Winsor are successful not because they are
single-sex, but because of the resources they have as private
schools.
Guests:
Rosemary Salomone, Kenneth Wang Professor of Law at St.
John’s University; author of “Same, Different, Equal: Rethinking
Single-Sex Schooling”
Rosalind Barnett, senior scientist at the Women’s Research
Center at Brandeis University; co-author of “The Truth About Girls
and Boys: Challenging Toxic Stereotypes About Our Children”