"And what would happen to people who don't fit the stereotypes of male and
female?"  I don't think single-gender classes would help these folks--in
fact, the classes might be negative experiences for them.  I also think
there are people who do learn better in a mixed environment, with and
without stereotypes, expectations, etc.  Mixed-gender classes mean mixed
experiences and responses IN the class, possibly yielding a richer learning
environment.

However,  there are instances where students who have come from abusive
settings may indeed feel more comfortable (and hence learn better) in
a single-gender class.  Or, there could be cultural reasons for wanting
separate classes.  I am thinking of some lovely Muslim ladies who used to
have separate classes in a school where I taught for awhile.  In the halls
and in the rest of the school, they remain fully covered.  In the comfort of
their all-female class, however, they could remove their Burkas, take off
their shoes, laugh and relax.  The teachers reported it was a very positive
learning environment.  Eventually, that class was cut and these ladies were
made to mix in with the general classes.  Not only were they uncomfortable
with the mixed-gender classes, their learning suffered significantly.

On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 5:33 PM, Daphne Greenberg <ALCDGG at langate.gsu.edu>
wrote:


> that is a good question-I don't know. But I am wondering if this is even

> something we as a field would want to suggest and push? It seems to me that

> some posters were advocating specific types of approaches for males. If that

> is the case, it seems to me that this points to separate classes for  women

> and men. I am just wondering if people think separate classes would be a

> good idea. If yes, what would the classes for women look like? And what

> would happen to people who don't fit the stereotypes of male and female?

> Daphne

>

> >>> "Katherine Gotthardt" <katherine.gotthardt at gmail.com> 7/13/2008 9:16

> PM >>>

> Daphne, even if students opted for a single gender class, would the typical

> school budget be able to handle it?

>

> On Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 6:11 PM, Daphne Greenberg <alcdgg at langate.gsu.edu>

> wrote:

>

> > Thanks to everyone for contributing to an interesting discussion on males

> > and education. Based on the posts that I have read, I am wondering if

> some

> > people would propose having separate classes for males and separate ones

> for

> > females. There were some posters who had very specific ideas about what

> > changes would need to be made in order to attract males to attend and

> stay

> > in adult literacy classes. Are there specific aspects that people think

> > would help attract females to attend and stay in adult literacy classes?

> If

> > yes, are people proposing separate classes? And if yes, what about people

> > who don't fit stereotypical notions of what males or females want?

> > Daphne

> > ----------------------------------------------------

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>

>

>

> --

> Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

> www.LuxuriousChoices.net <http://www.luxuriouschoices.net/>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Diversity and Literacy mailing list

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-- 
Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt
www.LuxuriousChoices.net
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