Gender based classrooms: what they do, do they work?

By: Autumn Hill

          Do boys and girls learn differently? Would being in a single sex classroom be less distracting than a “regular” classroom? What about the instructors in the gender-based classrooms? You may have heard that same gender classrooms can be easier for students, they can learn quicker and easier that way.

Indeed, studies have shown that same-gender classrooms increase students’ motivation, and students tend to become distracted by the opposite sex very easily. In an article on ascd.org, Jamie Smalls states, “Offering single-gender classes is an effective response to school-level data that shows achievement gaps between males and females, where students are not achieving at expected levels, or as a way to engage parents by offering a choice.”

            However, not everyone agrees with this. Tolerance.org, a discussion based website for gender-based classrooms, says, “There is no reliable evidence that segregating students by sex improves learning by either sex.” Diverse Learning Today, a group that looks at gender specific classrooms, states, “Recognizing diversity in the classroom is important. Excluding gender from that recognition limits the options educators can consider. Looking at gender differences and single-gender options as teaching tools can allow educators to better meet the needs of all students.”

Public schools can be more stressful for some (students), for a variety of reasons. Would the same thing happen in single gender classrooms? Some would say that the same gender classes causes students to be more loud, or chatty. Teens tend to engage more rather than focus more when they are with the opposite sex. Many private schools subscribe to the philosophy that single gender classrooms will make students more comfortable and less stressed.  

Perhaps single-gender classrooms are a good idea for some students, but not all. What about when they go out into the world and are put with the opposite gender, however? The Education Development Center asks, “Do boys and girls need different things to get a good education? They well may, because although girls and boys are more similar than they are different, our society treats them as if they are separate species.” If we were put in the same gender classrooms, then we wouldn’t know much about being with the opposite sex, making it difficult going into the real world. Bottom line, more research is needed before we switch to gender based classrooms across the nation.

How to pick the right college for you

By: Peter Lewis

It’s not a surprise to hear that the most important thing for any high school student to know is what college they need to go to.  This is truly one of the most important decisions anyone can make and will have numerous implications on their future.  Most times, picking a college goes beyond what you want your career to be; the college itself can be the deciding factor if you stay on that course or, as BusinessWeek.com reported, are part of the twenty-two percent of first time college freshmen that dropout after the first year. 

As ThinkProgress.org reported, only fifty-six percent of students who enter college in the United States graduate within six years and twenty-nine percent who enter a two-year program complete their degrees within three years the study found.  There are many factors that contribute to this.  AOL reported the top six reasons: anxiety/stress over expenses, anxiety about not spending time with family and friends, worrying about intellectual ability to complete course work, stress due to class interfering with normal routine, fear that earning a degree is needed to prove competence, and resentment for doing coursework rather than what they want.  The good thing to all this is that all these problems do indeed have solutions and if you know what you’re getting into before picking a college, you can avoid all of them.  Below are the most important things you need to know to pick and be successful in college.

 1. Know what you want to be/what major to pursue 

Easily one of the most important things to know when choosing a college is what career you wish to pursue after your period at a university.  A major should be something you are passionate about and can see yourself being able to do for an extended period of time.  Keep in mind that a career you want to do may be part of a broad major, such as journalism being classified most times under communications, which can lead you to other jobs after college.  Sometimes a career may require more than one major, like teaching, which needs a major in education and the subject itself.

 2.  Look at schools that offer your chosen major

 Everything you need to know about a school is online now, which will make this step fairly easy.  Look at colleges in your state and surrounding states, or even other states not close to your own and see which offer your chosen major.

 3.  Make a list of colleges

 With step two complete, begin to make a list of the colleges you think are best for you, but keep those you didn’t pick to the side, as your needs may change.

 4.  Check financial situation

 College is incredibly expensive, so a financial plan is a must.  Whether you have money set aside or go for scholarships, this step will most likely remove schools on your list.  Remember, out of state schools will charge you more and may not always be the best bet depending on your situation.  Before you apply for scholarships, you must set up a FAFSA account. Take this step in deep consideration, as it can be the difference between a smooth experience or financial stress with debt for years afterwards.

 5.  Check to see if you meet the college’s requirements

 If you already hadn’t, check to see the colleges’ requirements for ACT/SAT and GPA.  Depending how early you start looking gives you enough time to start, improving these and having a shot at getting in.  Keep in mind though, some schools advertise a select number for these, some can be liberal and get you in with an ACT/SAT or GPA close to what they initially wanted.

 6.  Know your priorities, needs, and mental strength  

 College will be stressful, there’s no other way of saying it.  Yet, knowing what you’re about to get yourself into will make a difference between staying and leaving.  If you’re going to college for the side activities, it’s best not to pick one that costs a lot or has high expectations.   Knowing how much stress you can handle and what a college will require of you will have a huge impact on your decision.

 7.  Know the location of the colleges on your list

 Going with step six and how your mental strength is, I can think about if you handle being away from home.  Be truthful; most teens will say yes, but it’s important to look at yourself and tell the truth, because, remember, thousands of dollars are on the line.  If you can’t handle this, then choosing an out of state school, or school that is more than a few hours away, may not be the best option.   

8.  Look into the college’s departments, housing, and opportunities

  You will find out very quickly that you need to know the campus of the college you’re looking at and what it has to offer.  To really ensure you’ll want to stay and not drop out, joining a club may be a very good option.  Keep in mind that a college’s size will directly impact t on how much they have to offer, so if you want options, a big college will have more to offer than a small college the majority of the time. 

As far as housing, most freshmen will stay on campus, but dorms are different and after freshman year, so it would be best to know your options and about housing off campus.  If you want a Greek Club, check to see if that college has one.

For some the most important end all be all is the opportunities or internships a college can offer.  If you want one, a college near a major metropolitan area would be advisable.  

9.  If time allows, call admission officers, set up a visit/meeting, and/or find a college fair

 If you have more questions that the college’s website cannot answer, strongly consider calling their admissions office and asking.  If really interested, check to see if you can set up a meeting or if when that college is having a welcome day of sorts.  College fairs are highly recommended and usually held at a local community college or high school.

 10.  Narrow list of colleges and apply

 Now that all steps are complete, the time will come when you turn in all the required information to a select college, or group, for admission.  It is best to have a backup school (or two) to insure you will get in somewhere.

With these steps in mind, the process of selecting a college will be much clearer.  If any other questions come up that were not answered here, remember that the admissions office and your school counselor are best suited to answer them or explain the process in much more in-depth detail.

The science of sleep

By: Brad Tripp

He hears a car drive by. He arises, only to pry his crusty eyelids open. Groggy and impatient is all Jimmy is going to feel today.  Jimmy spent almost all night playing Grand Theft Auto 5.  Jimmy has his regrets about last night. He feels accomplished to have beaten the game, but the lack of sleep is going to be his arch nemesis today.

Sleep is a vital thing to the health and well-being of almost any living thing on earth. Sleep helps a person be focused and productive in any lifestyle.  According to the Sleep Foundation’s website (a group that studies sleep’s impact on people), not enough sleep can be harmful if it happens regularly, affecting moods and the way you eat in negative ways.

Less sleep can cause unsafe attention span and lack of problem solving skills. It’s best to have at least nine hours of sleep to function properly, both mentally and physically.  Naps can be an effective way to combat lack of sleep; if you didn’t quite reach as much sleep as you need a twenty to forty minute nap can help to increase energy. Although, if you take a nap too close to the time you usually go to sleep it can affect your entire sleep pattern, making things a lot more difficult in the long run.

During Daylight Savings Time, we lose about an hour of sleep each night. According to the Washington Post, one hour lost each night can basically turn teenagers into “walking zombies.” This sleep loss causes teenagers to become very tired and to sleep in class, keeping them from paying attention in class, thus causing a domino effect to where the student may fall behind. So, getting the right amount of sleep each night, even during Daylight Savings Time, may be tough, but it’s worth it.

Most students fall asleep around eleven p.m. In order to get a full night of sleep, they would need to sleep until 8 a.m. According to Student Impulse.com, a student based website, studies show that less sleep reduces your rapid eye movement (REM) and when the eye cannot respond efficiently this causes confusion and slows teens down. If you have to get up before 8 a.m., it’s probably a good idea to get to bed early.

Student Impulse also states that later school start times affect students greatly. The site states that students skip less and are awake and alert more. It’s also believed that school activities affect students greatly, due to being tired, then coming home to one to three hours of homework almost every night. Sleep is vital and very crucial to the human body. All in all, it’s best to get a good night sleep for great results in your overall day.