I have spent the last six weeks working in an all-girl high school. I have never taught at a single-sex school before. I have taught all different levels of school from 4th grade to 11th grade... never just girls. I did not realize the difference the absence of boys would make in the school day.
My first week, the young ladies (and yes, most of them behave like ladies) came in to my room while I was setting up and welcomed me. I was wondering what they wanted from me or what questions needed answered, but they were there simply to say "Welcome to Our Lady of Chastity School." By the way, I made up that school to protect the guilty and the innocent... he he he.
My second week, school was moving along smoothly. The young ladies were starting to wonder how long I was staying, and if I was married, had kids, and if I lived in the city. Even the way they asked their questions were delicate, respectful, and considerate. They were careful not to be too intrusive or prying into the substitute teacher's business. Most of them patiently raised their hands to ask questions, made eye contact while I spoke, and treated my classroom like a place of learning. Of course, these are teenage girls, and there are a handful of them who are loud, boisteous, and disruptive. But the percentage of them are way lower than in
a mixed gender class.I am taking over for their Biology teacher for a few weeks while she is on maternity leave. We are getting along very well, and we have the most interesting discussions... the kind of conversations only girls can discuss comfortably. Today, we discussed the 4 major organic compounds: proteins, lipids (fats), carbohydrates, & nucleic acids--- and that inevitably gave rise to the topic of weight loss. We discussed why (when going a diet) we lose weight in places we don't want to (like our boobs) instead of places we want to (like our thighs).
Another tim
e last week, we were working with chemical model kits that resemble tinker toys. To build a molecule, you insert a wooden stick into a wooden ball. I was giving them instructions on how to properly insert the sticks into the black balls when I realized that I probably said the word "balls" about 17 times and NO ONE snickered or laughed yet. This would have happened in a mixed class of boys and girls.
