January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

ALICE JAMIESON GIRLS’ ACADEMY

Grades 4-9

The Calgary Board of Education

Educating Tomorrow’s Citizens Today

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

WHO IS ALICE JAMIESON?

• the first woman in Canada appointed to a court• judge of the juvenile court in Calgary • appointed magistrate of the women's court• instrumental in success of the “Persons” case• a member of the Calgary Council of Women • active in the development of the YWCA• an excellent role model of the academic,

organizational and leadership skills this alternative program promotes

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

Why Single-Sex Schooling?• Not for the traditional or historical reasons of

segregating the sexes to learn stereotypical roles, or to ensure class privilege through homogeneous grouping…

• but because recent(90’s) brain-based research reports:

• girls’ and boys’ brains are physiologically different; therefore they think differently.

• these research findings support previous research that claimed that the genders learn differently.

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

Brain-based Research Findings

• Brain differences are best understood as a spectrum

• There are “bridge-brained” children of both genders

• Attention to brain-based gender differences optimizes children’s natural learning abilities

• Differences are not evidence of gender superiority

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

Developmental Differences

• Female brain develops more quickly• Corpus Callosum is up to 20% larger in

females• Females have more development in the frontal

lobes which regulate emotions and decision-making

• Females take in more sensory data than males• Females tend to have better verbal abilities

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

Brain Chemical Differences

• Female brain secretes more serotonin making them more empathic

• Female growth hormone, progesterone, makes bonding a primary goal for girls

• Females manage social bonds through egalitarian alliances

• Female brain secretes oxytocin during stress causing females to tend to children and gather in friends. Estrogen enhances this calming response.

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

Based on recent research, single-sex programs have been initiated. What

have we learned?• Recent pilot projects of all girls’ programs in

the U.S. have been thoroughly studied (Datnow 2001) and the researchers state their findings for public systems considering this alternative program. A recent report from Australia (Martin 2002) regarding the educational outcomes of boys echoes the primary recommendations of the Datnow report.

• The authors from these reports recommend that strategies to improve girls and boys outcomes fall under a gender equity framework.

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

What is a Gender Equity Framework?A Gender Equity Framework includes:

• explicit modeling of equity principles • accommodation of specific learning needs • student ownership in policy and procedures• celebration of academic excellence and

personal best • mentorships• an understanding of biological and social

construction of gender• an emphasis on independence, empowerment,

and leadership.

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

Purpose of an All Girls’ Program

Utilizing the gender equity framework as a filter, the girls in this program will develop academic, leadership and collaborative skills for success in their personal life, educational endeavours, and career pathways.

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

The issues for girls are:• Girls’ beliefs about their leadership capacity

• Participation diminishes in co-educational classrooms with the onset of adolescence

• Curriculum materials seldom present women as contributing citizens

• Representation in math, science, and technology courses in post-secondary and careers diminishes

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

What is the Alice Jamieson Academy going to offer your

daughter?• Since our philosophy for learning is for the

optimal learning experience for girls, this program will be able to offer an experience for learning which is catered to their needs

• This is not going to be just school, it will be a new way of learning and living

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

Girls’ preferences for learning

• Cooperative learning

• Relationship-based curriculum

• Personal growth paths

• Verbal/Linguistic Communication

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

Emphasize Cooperative learning

Create an Optimistic culture

Facilitate

empowerment & leadership

Personalgrowth, personal best

Encouragementorshipswith female adults

Targeted Initiatives for the Program

Increase access to sciences & technology

Explore social construction of gender

Develop post program pathways

Celebrateacademicmastery

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

How is our program going to be different?

• Offering mentorship opportunities so that the students can form relationships with women with careers in similar areas of interest

• Providing an environment where girls can take on leadership roles

• Offering teachers who are passionate about the learning of females and a program which is best suited for her needs

January 2003 Office of the Superintendent Program Renewal

An Invitation

• The feasibility committee developed a collective dream of the best educational setting for girls. We invite you to be part of the realization of that dream.

• Any unanswered questions can be addressed during the tour of the school.

• Before leaving tonight, please be sure to sign our guest book. It will be another of the historical artifacts of Stanley Jones School.

• Thank you for joining us tonight.