Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 27, 1995 TAG: 9510270037
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Some educators think such classes can benefit boys and girls in certain subjects. But a majority of the school board candidates in the region oppose them - except for gym, health and family-life classes.
At a time when Virginia Military Institute is under attack because it admits only men, many candidates who responded to a survey by The Roanoke Times are wary of creating all-boy and all-girl classes.
Richard Edwards, a candidate in Montgomery County, said such classes are an absurd idea. "It was probably brought to us from the same folks who want students to attend school 360 days a year," he said.
James Klagge, Edwards' opponent, opposes single-sex classes at this point, too. But he said he would like to hear more about other schools' experiences with them.
"We need to prepare our children to meet the demands of real life, which is not supported by single-sex classes," said Eugene Erb, a candidate in Bedford County.
"I do not advocate single-sex classes, as I believe that both sexes benefit from coed classrooms for the most part," said Amanda Davis in Franklin County.
But some school board hopefuls are willing to try such classes.
Jeffery Wiegand of Giles County favors single-sex classes in certain grades and subjects because, he said, educational research has shown positive benefits in both gender equality and reduced behavioral problems.
"Single-sex classes enable girls to take leadership roles and develop self-confidence in otherwise male-dominated classes," Wiegand said.
Jeff Bain, a Pulaski County candidate, said he would want to look very seriously at single-sex classes, because they have merits and faults.
They might work best in middle school, he said, but it should be a joint decision by parents, teachers, students and the school board.
"This is one of those issues which needs to be developed from the bottom up, not top down," Bain said.
Sally Eads, a candidate in Botetourt County, said single-sex classes have been helpful in some localities to get girls over math and science anxiety, but such classes should remain a local-school option.
The General Assembly enacted a law earlier this year that allows schools to educate boys and girls in separate classes to the extent that doing so does not violate federal law.
Boys and girls have had separate gym and health classes for many years, but the new law would let schools have single-sex classes in other subjects.
Studies have shown that some boys are hesitant to participate in discussion in English classes because they're afraid of embarrassing themselves. Traditionally, girls do better in English and language arts.
The discussions have centered mainly on the creation of all-girl classes in science and math, subjects in which girls generally don't do as well as boys. Science and math classes for girls are being tried in several places across the country.
At Bowling Park Elementary School in Norfolk, pupils can choose between all-boy, all-girl or coed classes in kindergarten through the fifth grade. School officials said the single-sex classes are popular.
Oscar Williams, a candidate in Montgomery County, generally opposes separate classes, but he is willing to try them if they are experimental and voluntary by both students and parents.
In Bedford County, Benny Shrader said he recognizes the educational benefits of all-boy and all-girl classes, but he thinks they should be used only if there is local support for them.
Shrader said he would not vote for single-sex classes unless there was demonstrated public support.
Michael Beahm, a candidate in Botetourt County, said single-sex classes could prove useful in some areas, but he does not see a need for them in Botetourt.
Wat Hopkins, a candidate in Montgomery County, said he is not opposed to giving school divisions the option of single-sex classes, but he would oppose them in Montgomery.
"The exception would be the teaching of family life and other health subjects; currently, some of this material is taught in single-sex classes, and I support this approach," Hopkins said.
Beth Nelson, a candidate in Pulaski County, said all-boy and all-girl classes might be appropriate in some situations.
David Sulzen, who is seeking a seat on the Floyd County School Board, said he would defer to the local Parent-Teacher Association on the issue.
John Reed, a candidate in Roanoke County, said he thinks single-sex classes could be detrimental in some cases, but they should be allowed if they would solve a local problem.
by CNB