Classes split by gender called ’a success’ in Conway school

Sixth graders (from left) Reagan Schafer, Brittney Evans and Sarah Bailey respond during their all-girls class April 28 at St. Joseph Elementary School in Conway.
Sixth graders (from left) Reagan Schafer, Brittney Evans and Sarah Bailey respond during their all-girls class April 28 at St. Joseph Elementary School in Conway.

CONWAY — As the school year nears its close, administrators and teachers start evaluating the success of the school’s programs. For the administrators and teachers at St. Joseph Elementary School in Conway, the 2008-2009 school year brought big changes in the sixth grade.
Students were divided by gender for core classes, including math, science and literature. They were together in specialty classes like art, music, library, physical education and computer.
“Having the group gender split has had a huge impact on this group. I have not had near the number of discipline referrals, and I really think the children bonded together better within their gender,” elementary principal Susie Freyaldenhoven said.
Freyaldenhoven decided to divide the sixth grade by gender starting in August after reviewing research supporting split gender classrooms and gaining the support of teachers and parents.
Recently, she surveyed the parents and students to find out their impressions of the split gender classroom and if this change was a success.
“I was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents,” she said.
The sixth grade has 38 students and 71 percent of the parent surveys were returned, Freyaldenhoven said. Of those, 100 percent of the parents said they believed their child feels less stress in single-sex classes. Additionally, 96 percent of the parents said they believe their child concentrates better in single-sex classes.
As for students, the feedback again with positive with most students finding gender split classrooms helpful to their concentration. For girls, 71 percent said they find it easier to concentrate in a class of all girls. Also, more girls — 53 percent — said they feel more confident in answering questions in a classroom of all girls.
For boys, 57 percent said they feel like they have more friends now they are in a class of all boys.
Freyaldenhoven said sixth grade is a tumultuous year for many students. Hormonal changes and recognition and attention of the opposite sex can make classrooms a distracting place for students, she said.
“The behavior this year is 100 percent improved,” said Alicia Yrle, sixth-grade teacher. “Taking away that element of boy/girl tension improved concentration as well as behavior.”
The gender split class has also improved the overall teaching experience too.
“Teaching has been a joy. Everyone feels comfortable and confident,” Yrle said.
Students also enjoyed the year and were able to express themselves easier without the other gender around all the time.
“I like (split gender classes) because I concentrate better and am not afraid to ask questions,” 11-year-old Daniel Schaefers, said.
Sarah Bailey, 12, also said there was less pressure.
“I liked (split gender classes) because we got to be with our friends,” she said. “There was less pressure about asking questions without the boys there.”
The sixth graders will be divided by gender for core classes again next year, Freyaldenhoven said.
Although nothing is definite, she said there is a possibility some of the classes in seventh grade could be divided by gender as well. Because 100 percent of the respondents of the parent survey said they would be in favor of gender divided classes in seventh grade, the school is working on the schedule to see if this would be possible.
Several parents are supportive of split-gender classes in fourth and fifth grades too, she said.

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