Separation Threatens Girls

By Kim Gandy

This article originally appeared as an op-ed in USA Today on 3/28/06.

As a parent, I want my daughters to excel in school. The benefits of a quality education are undeniable. The question is whether separating girls and boys in elementary and secondary school clearly advances that goal. The answer, according to an extensive review last fall by the Education Department, is "no."

NOW was formed 40 years ago, at a time when most girls did not have an opportunity to reach their full potential. Sex stereotypes abounded, and we had to fight for inclusion at every level of society. And now, in 2006, we must defend the right of girls even to be educated alongside boys.

Sex-segregation in school threatens to increase, rather than reduce, inequities between boys and girls. Decades of experience tell us that female-dominated programs (everything from job training to school sports) consistently receive fewer resources than do male-dominated programs. And while our education system could use a boost of innovation (and the funding to support it), ushering girls to another room or a different campus is not the answer.

Supporters of separation argue, without proof, that boys and girls are so different they must be taught differently. But studies show that gender differences are relatively small and becoming smaller. For example, the degree of overlap in girls' and boys' math skills was computed at between 98% and 99%, while in verbal skills the overlap was 96%.

Given research showing that the commonalities between boys and girls far exceed the differences, the drastic step of separating boys and girls in public schools is not warranted. Research does not show that gender is an accurate, consistent, or even useful determinant of educational needs.

Nearly all single-sex public school programs offer special benefits — smaller class sizes, greater per-pupil funding and specially trained teachers — which help them attract highly-motivated students and parents. Instead of using these resources to promote the segregation of girls, let's offer those benefits to all students. Then our daughters and sons would have a higher quality environment in which to learn — together.