Perhaps I'm not understanding the concept of same-sex schools... but wouldn't that be where all the students in the school are of one sex? And don't those already exist? They must have, or my seventh-grade year was nothing more than a bad dream...
I did the one-sexed school thing in both Pennsylvania and WV, if memory serves, though I was specifically thinking of WV when I wrote that; can't remember if we had the lovely ladies in the sixth grade in suburban Pittsburgh. For some reason, my brain is telling me it was single-sex till high school and coed after that, but it could have been the other way round.
Private. But I thought we'd gotten to the point ten-fifteen years ago where single-sex schools were outlawed in both sectors (after the big VMI blowup in... 90? 91?).
I didn't know we didn't already have this. My first instinct is BAD! but now that I examine it, I'm not sure I completely agree with my instinct without further thinking.
How progressive of them to encourage homosexuality. I have a friend who went to an all girl school and it definitely encouraged her bi-sexuality. Given that bi-sexuals tend to be more liberal than heterosexuals, by encouraging the next generation in this direction, it could have a huge impact on the future of America.
I think you're missing the point that she was making, although I tend to agree with you.
I believe there have been studies that have shown that people grow up working better and being less socially awkward if they grow up in schools of both sexes.
When I was in college, the dormitories had separate areas for men and women and strict rules against inter-visitation after a certain hour. Throughout my collegiate life I continually praised the administration (usually in public forums) for taking such a pro-homosexual position. I did this because the administration was conservative and I knew that nothing would irritate them more. By the time I graduated, a higher percentage of students were questioning the administration rather than just accepting their rules. (I also contributed to the death of the conservative student newspaper and helped establish a more liberal newspaper in the Mass Comm department, but that's another story)
My reply on this string was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, but also as a way to combat the policy. If the conservatives who created the law find that this will encourage homosexuality, I can guarantee that they will repeal it. I am not above using their homophobia against them.
Unfortunately it is the nature of politics that if you attack a problem directly, you tend to fail. People are far more effective attacking from the side.
So I am going to continue praising them for this progressive policy.
That's a fair point, but college is very different from elementary through high school. I doubt they're really going to make a difference in the quantity of homosexuality by making elementary schools same-sex. Also, they may in fact be preventing these children from being as socially aware as they would otherwise be.
High School is another matter... they may well be encouraging homosexuality, but this is where most people start asking other people out on dates (to dances, etc.) So then it becomes a question of whether or not we want to encourage homosexuality or normal social awareness, and which is more effectively engendered.
It's almost a win-win.
And for the record, I'm not above using people's homophobia against them, either. ;)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
branchandroot![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 01:49 pm (UTC)Perhaps I'm not understanding the concept of same-sex schools... but wouldn't that be where all the students in the school are of one sex? And don't those already exist? They must have, or my seventh-grade year was nothing more than a bad dream...
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 02:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 02:46 pm (UTC)Private. But I thought we'd gotten to the point ten-fifteen years ago where single-sex schools were outlawed in both sectors (after the big VMI blowup in... 90? 91?).
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 03:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 05:04 pm (UTC)or am I completely missing the point?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 05:38 pm (UTC)I believe there have been studies that have shown that people grow up working better and being less socially awkward if they grow up in schools of both sexes.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 06:26 pm (UTC)My reply on this string was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, but also as a way to combat the policy. If the conservatives who created the law find that this will encourage homosexuality, I can guarantee that they will repeal it. I am not above using their homophobia against them.
Unfortunately it is the nature of politics that if you attack a problem directly, you tend to fail. People are far more effective attacking from the side.
So I am going to continue praising them for this progressive policy.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 06:40 pm (UTC)High School is another matter... they may well be encouraging homosexuality, but this is where most people start asking other people out on dates (to dances, etc.) So then it becomes a question of whether or not we want to encourage homosexuality or normal social awareness, and which is more effectively engendered.
It's almost a win-win.
And for the record, I'm not above using people's homophobia against them, either. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-21 03:46 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 05:46 pm (UTC)Are we talking about MI?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 05:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 06:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-20 07:02 pm (UTC)