Getting Girls Involved in Math, Science and Computer Science
We traditionally think of math, science and computer science as the areas in which boys, not girls, excel. But current research suggests that's not really an accurate perception and that girls have as much potential as boys in science and mathematics; it's just a matter of when and how those subjects are taught.
In a traditional, co-ed educational environment, both girls and boys focus on the same topics at the same time, building verbal, writing and language skills alongside math, science and technology skills. Unfortunately, boys' and girls' brains do not develop in the same way at the same time, according to ongoing research by the National Institutes of Health, the University of Michigan and scholars, physicians and psychologists around the world.
As it turns out, the areas of the brain responsible for analytical skills necessary for math and science develop faster in boys than girls, while the brain areas responsible for things like language, color and sensory perception develop more quickly in girls. As a result, elementary and middle school girls often struggle with math and science because they are asked to acquire skills and study material for which their brains are not ready, the study suggests. Likewise, boys often struggle with reading, English and social sciences for the same reason.
What's more, research by Deborah Stipek, dean of education at Stanford University, suggests that by the age of 12 children have formed solid ideas about the subjects that they like and dislike - and those perceptions are extremely hard to change. Placed in context, that means girls who are forced to tackle challenging math, science and technology work before their brains are developmentally ready are not likely to perform as well as boys - and are subsequently more likely to decide that they "don't like" math or science before they've had a fair chance to explore their potential in those areas.
The ultimate "solution" to all this is still up for debate, but some educational specialists and researchers suggest changing school curriculums to better accommodate the different rates of biological development in girls and boys, while others suggest additional tutoring or work in girls' or boys' respective "challenge areas" - especially given the fact that the skills and abilities of both sexes do eventually equalize in all areas.
One more immediate option for parents who are anxious to give their daughter the best chance at realizing her full potential in all subject areas, including math, science and computer science, is to enroll her in a single-sex school. While single sex education was once considered a traditional and not always effective approach to schooling, it's now viewed as an increasingly effective means of providing girls with an education that isn't just rich in resources: it's also developmentally appropriate.
Unlike co-ed schools, which are forced to balance the needs of both boys and girls, all-girl schools can focus exclusively on providing classroom environments, curriculum and teaching techniques specifically tailored to girls' biological and emotional developmental patterns, helping them realize their potential as scientists, mathematicians and computer scientists (to name but a few) in the process.
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