by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman

There’s been much written lately about the small percentage of kids in our country entering math and science careers. Cited are comparisons with China and India.

Additionally, there’s concern that those who do go into those fields are males, starting with course selection in high school. While boys take physics, girls elect advanced placement Spanish. Acceleration of racing cars and the speed of a football increases boys’ interest.

Leonard Sax, in a commentary piece in Education Week, suggests that teaching girls should be different. A riddle that asks the question--Is light a wave or is it made up of particles—would appeal to girls he asserts.  He believes that they will learn better in single sex classrooms.

As head of the National Association for Single Sex Public education, which started with 11 schools six years ago and now includes classes offered in 392 schools, Sax has some data to justify his beliefs. He insists that teaching girls differently needn’t disadvantage boys.

Whether such education reinforces gender stereotypes or provides girls more motivation is an ongoing question.