School opts to return to mixed classes
Takhini Elementary School has opted to abandon its single-gender program following a five-year review of the pilot.
By Ainslie Cruickshank on March 19, 2013
Takhini Elementary School has opted to abandon its single-gender program following a five-year review of the pilot.
"At this point in time, going back to mixed gender classes better suits the needs of our students,” Katrina Brogdon, Takhini's principal, told the Star this morning.
Mixed-gender classes will allow the school more flexibility in programming and hopefully more single-grade classes.
She highlighted the difficulties that can arise with Grades 6/7 split classes as an example.
"Grade sevens are all about preparing to go to high school,” she said, adding that it can be logistically challenging to prepare Grade 7 students, both academically and socially, in a split class.
Brogdon also noted that Grade 7 is a really special year for elementary students, and they would prefer their own class.
"As a really small school (Takhini has 147 students), that flexibility is key, and being locked into the single-gender model decreases a lot of flexibility for us,” she said.
The single-gender program at Takhini was first implemented during the 2008-2009 school year.
The move came with the expectation that academic performance would improve as behavioural issues diminished.
Both Brogdon and Alice Hartling, a co-chair of the school council, said there was very little movement in either area over the program's five-year run.
"There were really positive things that came out of the single-gender program but there was also negative things, and I think it just depended on the group of students,” Hartling said.
"If you happened to have a group of students that really clicked, then there was a lot of positive feeling in the classroom, but if you had a group of students that just didn't get along, there wasn't the flexibility to move them around and to change up the programming.”
After reviewing current research on single-gender programs, Takhini's recent academic data and through discussions with teachers, parents, students, and the Department of Education, it was agreed returning to mixed gender classes as of August 2013 is the best course of action for the school.
Comments (3)
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Old student of this school on Mar 20, 2013 at 3:32 pm
The idea of separating students is retarded! This is an important stage for mental development and social skill development. Why would anyone want to deprive students of normal social interactions? Glad to hear this retarded program was dropped. Was the big decision maker taking a psych course, and playing with the students? As I recall, this school has an odd track record for things that should never happen.
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Steve E on Mar 20, 2013 at 11:26 am
Yup, back to square one.
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Marie wns on Mar 20, 2013 at 6:34 am
Being a parent that participated in this I can honestly say I am glad they are going back to mixed. The damage and sterotyping that went on for the boys was enough to damage any child for a long time . Also please to see a new principal.