Girls and boys different from the neck up, too

Girls learn better in girls-only schools but boys excel in a co-educational environment, says a visiting expert on how the different sexes learn.

American psychologist Dr Joann Deak, who has worked with parents, teachers and students at single sex and co-educational schools in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington, said yesterday that boys and girls had different brain development.

Dr Deak said males used one side of their brain and did one thing at a time, whereas females used both sides and found it easy to multitask.

"We are as different from the neck up as we are from the neck down," she said. "Boys and girls are equally capable but different parts of their brain grow at different times.

"Boys can't hear vowel sounds as early as girls, but boys learn earlier with their maths thinking than girls."

Dr Deak said parents should think seriously about sending their daughters to a girls-only school because most girls learn better in a girls-only situation, while boys often did better in a co-educational school because they learn from girls.

"Having them both [males and females] in a class is great if you have a really talented teacher," she said. "If not there is a problem."

That doesn't mean there aren't good boys' schools and co-educational schools. Parents should visit schools and ask to sit in on classes.

Dr Deak said girls wanted A grades.

"Girls like to please and get good grades whereas boys like to have fun. Girls need to forget about the grades and enjoy learning while we [teachers] need to make it more interesting for boys so they get good grades."

- NZPA