Plan for Single Sex Schools in East Austin Is another Pricey Experiment

Link To Read Full Editorial: Plan for Single Sex Schools in East Austin Is another Pricey Experiment

Published by: The Austin American Statesman   Date: February 2, 2013.

Written By: Editorial Board

                The editorial is on the Vote made by Austin School Trusties to approve single-sex schools for Pearce middle school and Garcia middle school. The editorial calls out to its audience by making the statement "Parents, homeowners and taxpayers also deserved more serious discussions about how decisions regarding single-sex schools will affect the bottom line."

                The proposal chosen requires boys or girls in the Pearce-Garcia zones to attend the schools, unless they opt out. I agree with the statement "Successful single-sex schools across the country are based on choice." Indicating to me that there is reasoning to why or why not schools are successful, and by giving the option to opt out of the proposal would not give a good enough reason to begin the change to same sex schools.  Grand Prairie single sex school is an example given in the editorial to help justify the benefit of a single sex school. With the school only open for six months the progress of the school gives little data to go on and is not an accurate guide for the operation to be considered as an example to aid the proposal.

                The writer takes notice to the proposal and how there is no justification for making the costly commitment, nor is there solid enough research for a high success rate to undergo the changes. The reasoning behind the approving vote had no real backbone, they state in the editorial that "Instead the emphasis was on cosmetics — wearing uniforms or studying in environments that, as single-sex campuses, presumably offer fewer distractions."

                An overlook on the more negative side to the operation is pointed out by the use of district surveys and the indication of enrollments dropping. Even if they remain at the current enrollment numbers the cost for running the schools would increase about 1.5 million more than what it is currently costing to maintain the schools. Figures provided by the district illustrate the demands on the districts limited fund increase, therefore making it increasingly harder to sustain the single-sex schools.

                I feel as if the intent on striving to find a better solution for poor academic success in schools should always be a current topic. The way the district is going about their decisions doesn’t seem to be thought out or backed up with enough facts to validate the districts intentions. By doing so it affects more than the students but the whole family and district staff. High test scores in a quick amount of time should not be the goal at hand, instead look at the base and structure on how the students are learning. The teachers and curriculum impact the student individually, and need to be seen as key factors. Positive and negative effects on schools and students success or failure are needed to be analyzed and looked in detail. The solution should not be thought of as a whole but instead looked at in one subject at a time.