Teachers and administrators are enthused about a new program at Suwannee Middle School. Some single gender classes are being offered at SMS in an attempt to bolster FCAT scores and reduce socialization problems among students.

This is the second school year single gender classes have been offered at the school.

"We have found it successful," SMS principal Norri Steele said. "This is a very social age and because of this we tried single gender."

SMS has 10 single gender classes, with one teacher overseeing two of those classes, in grades seven and eight. Academic areas include Math, Life Science, U.S. History and Career Planning.

Steele said none of the teachers asked to take on a single gender class refused and all were enthusiastic about the idea.

"As a classroom the students are more on task," said eighth grade U.S. History and Career Planning teacher Mary Cason. Cason has a class with all girls. "There is no distraction ... they use their time more wisely," she said.

Fellow teacher Terry Brinson agreed.

"There are fewer distractions, all boys are more willing to open up and discuss the subject matter without the threat of embarrassment (from the girls)." Brinson teaches eighth grade Life Science.

Students in single gender classrooms seem to like the arrangement.

"If guys were in the class, we probably wouldn't be focused," said one female student.

"We get to discuss stuff more freely without girls," said one male student, who added that when boys offer comments in class, "girls may laugh at them."

School Board chairperson Julie Ulmer also thinks the single gender program is a good idea.

"We are excited about a new program that we feel like our children will only make great learning gains," she said.

Ulmer said letters were sent to parents weeks ago alerting them to the program. "We wanted to increase parent communication on this," Ulmer said.

Steele noted that it's still too early to know how successful the program will be. However, she believes the numbers so far show learning gains.

Results from last year's Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test show that some of the students tested in single gender classes performed better on the math portion of the test than those taking a mixed gender class.

According to statistics kept at SMS, 75 percent of boys in a single gender math class at the school registered gains on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, as did 71 percent of girls. In mixed classes, the increase in test scores was as low as 25 percent.

Opponents of single gender classes worry about the reinforcement of certain stereotypes or that resources may not be properly allocated between the genders.

However, Florida law requires that if a public school offers a single gender class, a co-ed course must be offered as well. In addition, enrollment in single gender classes is voluntary.

Some opponents of single gender classrooms also argue that students need to be able to interact with the opposite sex for growth and maturity.

Suwannee Intermediate School started its own pilot program this year, offering two single gender classes. Principal Betty Ann Sumner said teachers and administrators are looking forward to the results.

"Anytime we can have innovative programs that can benefit our students, we should absolutely look into those programs," she said.