Board Votes to End School Sex Imbalance

The San Diego Unified School District gave itself a failing grade last year when an internal report concluded that the district did not treat male and female students alike.

On Tuesday the Board of Education voted to correct the district’s shortcomings by encouraging all students to take classes traditionally reserved for the opposite sex.

After finding that 11% of the secondary classes were “gender imbalanced”--80% of the students in a class were the same sex--the board accepted guidelines that would encourage students to take courses ranging from family studies to industrial education.

Those supporting the decision said it would mean that counselors will no longer funnel female students into clerical and family-oriented professions, and male students will be encouraged to learn family skills as well as engineering.

Those opposing the plan said it is an improper attempt by a government agency to change the students’ attitudes and values.

“What is the purpose of the implementation of the policy?” board president Larry K. Lester asked the audience. “Is it to transform society? From what I have seen that is the intent. School is not an agency to change society’s values.

“Is it the proper attitude of this school district to change the attitude of these students? Some people would argue that it is . . . I have problems with that.”

The report, completed in December, said one of the major problems is that the students are biased in their views about which careers men and women should hold. This bias is further supported by role models, teachers and counselors, the report said.

To encourage better balance in classes, the report recommended the district assign elementary-school students to classes based on gender balance. Teachers would also examine course content and take steps to encourage a balanced enrollment.

Counselors will be asked to encourage students to consider non-traditional courses and careers. The district would also select textbooks that do not portray men and women as holding certain jobs.

Lester, the only member to vote against the plan, said he opposed it in part because the board should be more concerned with the quality of education than with who is taking which subjects.

Most residents who support the plan said the district is indeed responsible for changing society and the students’ attitudes.

“Society has already changed,” Katie Klumpp told the board. “San Diego must educate students so they can function in society.”

She said that schools have traditionally forced students to take certain courses--English literature, for example--and that in this case the district also has a responsibility to force students to take subjects they do not want to take.