An article in today’s Boston Globe reports that Mass 4th graders outperformed the rest of the nation on a science and math exam (TIMSS), “coming in second just behind Singapore and ahead of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan.”

This and other tests now show that female students are performing as well or better than their male counterparts in math and science. Some specialists caution, however, that females are still less confident in these two subjects, leading Mass to consider teaching girls math separately from boys, basically re-enacting segregation in education.

I can certainly understand what they are getting at – creating a comfortable environment for girls to learn science and math, perhaps using an approach different from that used with boys. On the other hand, I am appalled by the proposition. It’s not healthy, and it’s a potential slippery slope to a huge double standard and further doubt of girls’ math skills.

What do you think? Is separate science education for girls and boys a viable solution to increasing girls’ confidence?