Single gender classes to resume at Waccamaw
Last Updated on 12/1/2008
Published on 10/9/2008
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
When Waccamaw Middle School created single gender classes for English and math courses this year, there was one question that was not answered.
What will happen with students whose parents do not want their children in same sex classes?
While that question was being answered, the program was discontinued.
At Tuesday night's Georgetown County School Board meeting, the board was informed the single gender classes will resume.
Dr. Celeste Pringle, assistant superintendent for learning, said there are 56 students who have chosen to opt out of the program.
Pringle said the school can accommodate those students with the school's current personnel. She said those students will be divided up as evenly as possible based on gender and grades for their classes.
The changes will not cause overcrowded classrooms, school leaders said.
School principal Bill Dwyer said about two-thirds of parents who responded to a survey said they support the single gender classes.
Pringle said the district has not received any complaints from parents at the other schools that offer some single gender classes.
Carvers Bay High was the first in the district to offer the program for 9th grade students It then spread to Carvers Bay Middle School and Georgetown High.
Plantersville Elementary will begin single gender classes in January and Kensington Elementary and Rosemary Middle Schools will possibly have the program in place for the 2009-10 school year.
WIS Dedicated
Tuesday's meeting took place at the new Waccamaw Intermediate School where a short dedication ceremony was held.
Principal Dr. Tim Carnahan said many people in the community questioned the need for a new school when the idea first came up several years ago.
Comparing it to the story of Noah, Carnahan said District Supt. Dr. Randy Dozier correctly predicted there would be "a flood of students" populating the Waccamaw Neck.
The school is designed for 750 students, said architect Steve Goggans.
Dozier said building and opening a school on time is no easy task but the construction workers pulled it off.
He said the district saved about $10 million by sharing property with Waccamaw Middle School.
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Isn't it great to have a choice in public education?! That is the law and that was the purpose of the initial complaint to the school--parents should be able to choose which style better provides for their child--co-ed or single gender. Posted by choice on 10/10/2008
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I'm so glad to hear that the single gender classes will continue. It's only 2 classes but it sure makes a positive impact on the kids in those classes. My child didn't really like that I selected to continue to support the single gender classes but his grades in those classes are much better than in his mixed classes and these are classes that he didn't do as well in last year. Posted by fustrated on 10/10/2008
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people be careful- the same sex thing is getting very,very heavy w/kids Posted by same gender-NO NO on 10/9/2008
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