老澳门开奖结果

老澳门开奖结果 Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Family that Has Been Adversely Affected by Faulty Program

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. 鈥� The 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of West Virginia today sued a middle school they contend harms the education of students by illegally forcing them into same-sex classes and using discredited sex-based teaching methods.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a mother and her daughters, contends Van Devender Middle School implemented a curriculum that relies on faulty science and outmoded stereotypes. For example, the boys鈥� classrooms are more brightly lit and teachers permit boys to move about during class to exert energy, on the theory that boys see better in bright light. In contrast, girls are to sit quietly and share feelings in dimly lit rooms.

鈥淪upporters of these programs make completely unfounded generalizations about boys and girls, but offer no proof that these strategies pay off academically,鈥� said Sarah Rogers, staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果 of West Virginia. 鈥淲hat has been proven, however, is that these programs foster stereotypes and hurt kids who don鈥檛 fit the idea of how a stereotypical boy or girl is supposed to learn and behave.鈥�

Teaching based on stereotypes places any student who does not fall into artificially created norms at risk. For example, a girl represented in the lawsuit is frequently reprimanded in class for her inability to sit still, despite the fact that she has attention deficit disorder. As punishment she is frequently sent to the boys鈥� room where she is not permitted to take part in physical or academic activities with the boys, but instead is told to sit and face a wall.

鈥淢y children are suffering academically and made to feel as though they鈥檙e abnormal because they don鈥檛 fit these completely untrue stereotypes,鈥� said the mother, who has remained anonymous to protect her daughters鈥� privacy. 鈥淎ll kids learn differently, no matter what sex they are, and my daughters and their classmates deserve better.鈥�

One of her daughters is legally blind and has repeatedly requested that the lights in her classroom be made brighter like they are in the boys鈥� classroom. In response, she was told to sit by a window, which was inadequate and further interfered with her ability to participate in class. She consequently required a stronger prescription for her glasses and contacts. Another daughter was not permitted time to take notes during PowerPoint presentations because her teacher told her that girls are supposed to learn better through auditory, not visual, input. Her grades have gone down as a result.

鈥淚t can be tempting to resort to dramatic changes when it comes to fixing public schools. But coeducation is not the problem, and separating kids to teach to sex stereotypes is certainly not the answer,鈥� said Amy L, Katz, cooperating attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果 Women鈥檚 Rights Project. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening in this school is happening across the country in other misguided programs, and children are suffering for it.鈥�

Federal law allows coeducational schools to implement single-sex programs only if they can offer a compelling reason for the decision. Programs may not be based on generalizations about the talents and capacities of each sex. They must be completely voluntary, and a substantially equal co-ed alternative must be available, which Van Devender does not offer. That means any family that wishes to opt out would have to change schools.

Many single-sex programs, including the one at Van Devender, are based on discredited theories of the supposed differences between boys鈥� and girls鈥� brains, including ones that claimed girls do badly under stress, so they should not be given time limits on tests; and that boys who like to read, do not enjoy contact sports and do not have many close male friends should be firmly disciplined, required to spend time with 鈥渘ormal males鈥� and made to play sports.

The clients in this case reached out to the 老澳门开奖结果 when they became aware of the nature of the sex separation at Van Devender as the result of 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 鈥淭each Kids, Not Stereotypes鈥� campaign questioning stereotyped single-sex programs nationwide.

Counsel on the case include Lenora Lapidus, Galen Sherwin, Christina Brandt-Young and Amy L. Katz of the 老澳门开奖结果 Women鈥檚 Rights Project; Sarah Rogers of the 老澳门开奖结果 of West Virginia; Joshua Hartman, Roxann Henry and Marissa Harris of Morrison Foerster LLP; and Roger Forman.

For more information on 鈥淭each Kids, Not Stereotypes鈥� please visit: www.aclu.org/womens-rights/teach-kids-not-stereotypes