Peer responses: Read your peers' initial posts and respond substantively to the initial posts of at least two peers. At least one of your peer responses must be to a peer assigned to the group opposite the one to which you were assigned. In your peer responses, evaluate the quality of their argument. Did they adequately justify their assigned positions? What scholarly information can you offer to support or refute their position? It is important to demonstrate critical thinking in your peer responses.

PEER 1: Melissa

Before researching this topic, I always assumed that a classroom was equal in learning among girls and boys. Now that I have researched the topic I have found out otherwise and why a single gender school is beneficial.

There are many differences in the way girls and boys learn differently and how they perform in the classroom. Girls naturally are better at language based classrooms and usually do well with multitasking. Boys, however, are more logical and mathematical based and find it hard to concentrate when they are upset or overwhelmed. So, if a classroom were specifically geared towards a particular gender, the teacher would be able to focus on specific techniques for that gender.Strengths and weaknesses in the student's education would be identified a little easier in the classroom and can be addressed quickly.Also, most parents would be for a one gender classroom because they feel that the opposite sex causes a distraction (Stanberry, 2016). Lastly, " Advocates claim co-ed schools tend to reinforce gender stereotypes, while single-sex schools can break down gender stereotypes. For example, girls are free of the pressure to compete with boys in male-dominated subjects such as math and science" (Stanberry, 2016).

Stanberry, K. (2016, May 19). Single-sex education: The pros and cons. Retrieved August 21, 2016, from Great Schools!, http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/single-sex-education-the-pros-and-cons/

PEER 2: Joshua

For our second discussion this week, we are asked to learn about both male and female brains, and how they both learn. Male and females have been compared since the beginning of time, whether it is how they grow to how they play sports, there will always be a debate as to whether males or females learn differently. Therefore as girls and boys begin their educational journey, there are certain perspectives we need to look at and start with separating them in schooling.

After reading "Boys and Girls learn differently" by Michael Gurian and Patricia Henley with Terry Trueman, these authors talk about how boys are more difficult to teach and have more learning and discipline problems (Qureshi, E. (2013). The cerebral cortex which contains neurons that promote higher intellectual functions and memory, and interprets sensory impulses (Gurian, M., Henley, P., & Trueman, T. (2001). In males the cerebral cortex is thicker on the right side of the brain and in females the cerebral cortex is thicker on the left side, meaning that males tend to be right-brain dominant; females tend to be left-brain dominant.

Looking into the class-size of schools and with already separating males and females in schools, there is a deep bonding with peers and with teachers and the lower potential for discipline problems (Gurian, M., Henley, P., & Trueman, T. (2001). As for the care of girls, it is specially important to reduce the size in classes that require high spatial and abstract intellect (Gurian, M., Henley, P., & Trueman, T. (2001). Girls with lower spatial often recede and lose personal power in an environment where they feel less capable and are dominated by a few.

Boys and girls have numerous differences when it comes to learning and with their brains, and from this discussion I have learned that there is more than we think. So therefore having girls and boys in separate schools based on their gender is completely needed, and has benefits for both genders.

Josh

Reference

Qureshi, E. (2013). BOYS AND GIRLS LEARN DIFFERENTLY. 15(3), 531-538.

Gurian, M., Henley, P., & Trueman, T. (2001). Boys and Girls Learn Differently! : A Guide for Teachers and Parents. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.