Sex segregation may be justified in some Catholic or private schools in which participation is entirely voluntary. But such a policy is unacceptable in government-funded public schools where voluntary participation is questionable.The ACLU filed a lawsuit on Sept. 8 against the Vermilion Parish School Board on the grounds of sex segregation, which they claim violates Title IX of the Education Amendments, Equal Education Opportunities Act and the Equal Protection Clause. The students at Rene A. Rost Middle School can elect to participate in single-sex classes. In the 2008-09 school year, Principal David Dupuis was authorized to implement a pilot program to study the effects of separating students into different classes based on their sex. This pilot program was initiated in two subject areas, for students in the eighth grade only, said Calvin Woodruff, attorney for the Vermilion Parish School Board. It involved the study of how sex segregation would affect student performance. Following the study, which spanned two six-week periods, Dupuis wrote a report for the school board laying out the results of his findings.This year, the program was initiated school-wide. Students who attend Rene A. Rost Middle School don’t have the option to attend another public school. Single-sex classes were initially mandatory, but the program became voluntary again after the plaintiff expressed belief that a mandatory program based on sex separation was unconstitutional and illegal.But according to the lawsuit drafted by the ACLU, the school failed to implement a truly voluntary program. The plaintiff in this case was placed in sex-segregated classes against the parent’s wishes. Furthermore, the plaintiff’s mother alleged “her daughter was approached by the principal and pressured to attend single-sex classes, directly contrary to her wishes.”Implementation of such a program is a social regression to a time when socially constructed stereotypes mandated the treatment, education and interests of students. Students should not be guided toward one interest or another based on what educators believe is appropriate for their sex.Marjorie Esman, Executive Director of the ACLU and the ACLU Foundation of Louisiana, explained “in many cases sex segregation is based on outmoded stereotypes that we hope are not at play in Vermilion.”Many proponents of sex segregation in schools rely on the book “Why Gender Matters” by Dr. Leonard Sax, psychologist and medical doctor. The basic premise is that boys and girls learn in different ways. Separating classes by sex provides an environment in which boys and girls can be taught in the way which best suits their gender.This is based on a set of stereotypes of what an average boy or girl is interested in and how he or she should best be taught.Woodruff said the school board is satisfied the services provided to each sex are equal, because the curricula for all public schools are governed by statewide regulations, which each school is required to follow.But this is not necessarily the case. The ACLU was informed the required reading list for boys differed from that for girls.Although I do believe boys and girls differ in many ways, these differences should not be reflected in public education. It is also important for both sexes to learn to work with each other regardless of differences. This socialization is essential in a world that is not sex-segregated.Students should be encouraged to pursue their own individual passions and interests, rather than those determined by our society to conform to generally accepted sex stereotypes. In a coeducational environment, individual interests can best be encouraged. In a group composed of only one sex, the pressure to conform to a sex specific stereotype is intensified. Nathan Shull is a 35-year-old finance junior from Seattle.  Follow him on Twitter @TDR_nshull.—-Contact Nathan Shull at [email protected]