Gender & Schooling

Over the summer we took the course Schools & Society focusing on the interplay between schools and the various communities that impact the classroom on various levels. One theme we discussed in the course was how gender plays out in schools and the impact it holds. The simplest example is how students line up according to gender.

At my placement, the kids line up according to gender and lunch is also split by gender. When the girls are eating, the boys are outside playing. After 20 minutes they switch places and the boys are allowed in the cafeteria to eat and the girls go outside to play. The school splits up the students because it has reduced a lot of problems that were occurring at lunch.

It difficult to find a position on the topic. As a sociologist, I would want to see less gender division and promote collaborative learning among students. I also understand the concern of the school and their pragmatic decision of organizing lunch. I do believe it is important for boys and girls to learn how to socialize with each other with respect. I fear such gender division has bigger implications in the manner society organizes itself. For the moment being, the school is keeping lunch time in order but I believe there are unseen consequences as a result. I would like to see the school allow lunch not to be gender divided and work on changing the culture of the students at lunch.