We are hereby asking that the Milton Academy administration review the recent decision to get rid of the gender-separated English Program in 7th grade--which has for decades been a signature program of the middle school.

We have reviewed the arguments presented by the administration, including

• Easier scheduling
• There is no learning benefit
• Respect for fluid gender identities emerging in 7th grade

and remain unconvinced that the program deserves to be cut.

The administration offered the argument that there was no proof that this had any salutary effect. While there may be no impact on the English language learning goals, there are intangible benefits relating to friendships and identity development that are not tracked. Generations of young people refer to this class as the most formative and supportive growth experience in Middle School--because it combined deep questions of self-understanding with an intense writing and reading curriculum. The plan to provide gender specific affinity groups seems to miss this point.

As for the gender fluidity question, there are many arguments for having an academic class in a single-sex environment for precisely the reason that they are suggesting makes it difficult:

1. Students who might be questioning gender would still benefit from literature that interrogates coming of age through the lens of gender.

2. Each same-sex classroom MUST look at social constructions of both genders (limitations, myths, etc.).

2. Schools can never satisfy every individual's need; the vast majority of students now conform to a gender binary, and to shift policy in order to attend to a hypothetical risks losing benefits for most students.

We realize that a survey was conducted but did not get the sense that the survey was independently conducted, and got the sense that the quotes were pulled out to support a logistical argument for getting rid of the program.

We, the undersigned, therefore urge the school administration to

a) reverse the decision for the school year of 2017/2018

b) conduct a full independent review of the program in consultation with parents and alumni and to not abolish it until or unless there is a plan for how to replace it.