Science magazine has given space in its journal to a small group of self-appointed experts who insist that no child shall be allowed to attend a single-sex public school. The New York Times, who decided that these “founders” of the American Council for CoEducational Schooling are worthy enough to be accorded major news coverage, tells us that these psychologists find no evidence whatsoever that single-sex education yields any better results than co-educational education. Or vice-versa, I might add, though the New York Timesforgot to mention that detail.
The lead proponent of the attempt to revive earlier restrictions on single-sex education is none other than a past president of the American Psychological Association, Diane F. Halpern. She and her fellow “founders” urge the federal government to forbid single-sex schooling, an idea dredged up during the early days of the feminist movement but something Washington backed away from during the Bush Administration (with support from Hillary Clinton, who was educated at Wellesley, the country’s premier women’s college).
But of course, if there is no evidence as to which type of schooling is to be preferred, why not let parents choose which type of schooling is best for their child?
