My son is in kindergarden, he is 6 years old. He told me one day that on the bus he is not allowed to sit next to his friend Megan (the neighbor girl). He said that boys sit on 1 side of the bus and girls sit on the other side. I was kind of thrown by that, but let it go. I figured maybe since its on the bus and the driver doesnt have a good view of everything going on that way probably the reason. Well, yesterday I spent the day at my sons school. In the classroom, all the kids sit together. Boys and girls at tables and on the rug for stories. At lunch though, they have different tables. Girls at one table and boys at another. This was not the case when I was in school and I am just wondering if any other schools do this or if anyone knows the reason behind this. I guess I just dont really understand it because when they get older boy and girls will not always be seperated. It makes me feel that it will make it harder for boys and girls to get along in the future...
Thanks
I would not like this if it were being done in my daughter's school. I would ask the school to justify these practices. Let them tell you their reasons, I could only guess...
I think that's a great idea. I wish my children's buses and school would do this! The bus is a great place for trouble, especially with girls. Girls get sexually assaulted on the bus on a daily basis. The drivers can't see and the girls are usually to scared to say anything.
Send your school a thank you note!
Ask the Teacher why?
I have never heard of that myself...
seems weird.
I would love love love this policy in my children's intermediate school!!!! The boys are always starting trouble...food fights, bullying, and yes, talking inappropriately to the girls. Some schools want to take public schools and have girls only and boy only classes. I went to an all-girl HS and had no problem integrating with boys in my college classes. Just because the genders are separated in the classroom, doesn't mean they can't mingle in the schoolyard, park, sports, or at parties.
Seems a bit odd to me. I would ask the teachers or the principal for the reasoning behind this.
I've heard of bus drivers doing that. They usually classify them in some way so they can remember who's who. But not school. I think it would bother me if my childs school was like this. You should call the school and find out I don't think such things like that are appropriate? I know its not a BIG deal but thats so weird shouldn't they be with their class?
It does seem a bit odd but maybe it has to do with bathroom breaks or something?? Do the lunch monitors or teachers take them to the restroom before or after lunch...maybe this makes it easier to do and easier to keep track of everyone. I do know that restroom is an absolutely amazing time sucker for teachers, one you wouldn't think of normally, but it can be a huge mess, so maybe that's it?? I agree that I would just ask someone and see what it's all about.
Very strange. I would ask why they have made this policy. Maybe they will convince you it's for the best?
I know this isn't happening in the classroom, but there have been studies that show that separating girls and boys helps them learn better. Especially in the upper elem. and middle school. When they are integrated, girls tend to shut down more in the classroom because it isn't seen as "sexy," for want of a better word. But, this is the age in which girls start looking at the opposite sex for approval; those darn hormones...
On my K daughter's bus, there is one boy that really likes to hug and kiss her. The driver won't let them sit together. She doesn't like it when he does it and the driver has put a stop to it.
Also, K and 1st grade tend to be the age in which they explore bodies and want to play doctor. Maybe they are trying to avert that or any possibility of inappropriate touching. They are curious at this age.
I'm with the majority - this is very strange. Maybe at your son's conference you can ask about it or even ask the school secretary. And to the mom who said she would love this at her kids school because boys always start trouble - girls are just as much trouble makers so seperating them isn't going to teach them to work together at all.
