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Boys will be boys Girls will be girls If that's true, should they learn separately? Suburban school district may split classes by gender.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Corrinne Hess Daily Herald Staff Writer

The laughter can be heard from the hallway.

Inside the Wilmette middle-school class, a small group of students has taken over the large room. Some sit atop desks, while others lie across beanbag chairs or on the floor.

The relaxed atmosphere makes the class seem unusual.

The absence of girls confirms it.

Wilmette Elementary District 39 is part of a growing number of school systems across the country to offer single-sex classes, and Antioch Elementary District 34 might be next to jump on the bandwagon.

Antioch Superintendent Scott Thompson said he wants to test single-gender reading classes. The school board has directed him to form a committee of parents and educators to study such classes and return with a recommendation next spring. The earliest such classes could be implemented is the 2008-09 school year.

"It interests me because I believe boys and girls do learn differently and I want to meet all of our kids' needs," Thompson said. "We already emphasize different instruction in all classes and this would just be an extension of our basic philosophy."

Does providing a setting free of typical gender stereotypes...

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