Catholic school splits girls, boys classes

Students at a Calgary Catholic elementary school will be segregating girls and boys starting this fall to boost enrolment as well as learning opportunities.

On Wednesday night, the Calgary Catholic School District approved separating girls and boys at the Sacred Heart School into different classes after consultation with parents and teachers.

Principal Diane Chomik said the move should benefit students' learning because girls and boys sometimes feel intimidated or distracted around the opposite sex.

"Students will feel more confident when they are discussing issues and concerns and questions and things like that with their own gender," said Chomik.

"Boys learn differently than girls and vice versa so we would like to use instructional strategies that would support that."

Some parents support the change.

"I remember when I was young that I was always trying to impress the boys, even from a young age. And if that pressure isn't there on the children, they might actually be able to focus better on their studies," said parent Elizabeth Kenyon.

Core subjects will be taught to each gender separately but students will still mingle during recess, lunch and events such as concerts and assemblies, explained Chomik.

Some experts say integrating students is still important for their social development.

"All of these opportunities help children to develop who they are so it is important to be able to interact with others, both boys and girls," said Cynthia Prasow, an expert on early childhood education at the University of Calgary.

The program will be open to students in kindergarten to Grade 6 around the city, as the southwest school hopes to increase its enrolment.

The Calgary Board of Education runs a public program for girls in Grades 4 to 8 at the Alice Jamieson Girls' Academy.