We’ve observed a couple of situations where the research of Dr. Leonard Sax underlies school organization and philosophy- The Webb Schools (The Webb Schools’ Distinctive Coed Environment) and Memphis public schools’ introduction of single gender public schools (Boys and Girls Education in a Public School Setting).

Sax will visit Toronto this week to make the case for a situation similar to Memphis. He has the support of Toronto District School Board Director, Chris Spence.

Sax visited with The Globe and Mail’s (Toronto) Kate Hammer for an interview. Sax is as knowledgeable as ever in his case for single gender education. But, I most like his qualification. It provides the nuance that teachers and families need to keep in mind as they consider every student’s education. Single gender schools provide the best option for some students, but, certainly not all.

“(Hammer) ‘So if teaching needs to be tailored to the sexes, should every classroom be single-sex?’

(Sax) ‘I wouldn’t say for a second that every boy learns one way, every girl another, or that every child should be in a single-sex classroom. But I do believe that every parent should have a choice. … Toronto’s Catholic board offers three all-boys schools, but at this time, if you’re not Catholic, you don’t have any all-boys schools available within the public sector. So if your son is one of those boys who might benefit from being in an all-boys school but you don’t have $15,000, you don’t have that choice right now…’”

It’s all about having the best options and approaches available.