Adrian R-III to make changes 2nd semester

By MICHELE BURRIS

At the beginning of this school year, the Adrian R-III Middle School and High School introduced a new way to help maximize student learning by separating boys and girl in both core and non-core classes. Upset parents forced administrators to take a hard look at the legality of single-sex classes. The initial determination, according to the law, was to provide parents who did not want their children in these classes with an opportunity to notify the administration. Four parents did that, and those students were placed in coeducational classrooms.

In researching further, R-III administrators talked with administrators from schools within a 50-mile radius of Adrian who offer gender-specific classes. They also reviewed two recent court cases in which school districts challenged the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in a court of law on the legality of gender-specific classes. The ACLU maintained that single-sex classes violate Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, while the districts stated that the gender-specific classes are completely voluntary, making them legal. In both cases the judges ruled in favor of the school district.

Even with all of the research showing that it is in fact legal to offer single-sex classes, the ACLU was notified of the segregation of boys and girls in Adrian. The district firmly believes that single-sex classes benefit students, but will forego a legal battle with the ACLU. Incurring legal fees is not a good way to use the district’s funds when there are greater program needs. Classes will be changed to coeducational by the start of the second semester in January 2012 except for middle school non-core classes.

Below is a portion of the letter sent home with middle/high school students from Principal Chris Shanks last week that explains the district’s decision:

In regard to changes that have been or will be made to improve student learning, Shanks posted the following on the R-III website (administration tab, Mr. Shanks): In education, teachers and administrators should react and make changes on a daily basis. People cannot ever stay the same and expect to get better in anything. Farmers, for example, do not farm the same way today that they did 10 years ago…if they did they would go under. Educators cannot continue to teach school the same way either. Today’s children are exposed to so much more and they must be prepared to face these challenges. Kids today live in a global environment and if they do not have a good educational base it will be very hard for them to be successful. Change is a part of life and it is painful for some. Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity is “to continue to do the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results”. Parents and educators cannot just “cross our fingers and hope for the best”, too much is at stake. Change needs to occur if Adrian R-III is going to improve. If what the school tries does not work, then staff and administrators will back up and hit the problem again from a different angle.

Anyone with questions can call Chris Shanks at the school, 816-297-2158 or send an email to chris.shanks@adrian.k12.mo.us.