| Culture, Science and Shmuly | |
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by Dr S, July 24, 2008
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Rabbi Shmuly Boteach's recent article (What creates sparks between men and women? Jerusalem Post, 6/16/08) justified his decision for providing single sex education for his children. I have, to a certain degree, made a similar decision regarding the education of my children and support those who choose to do so. My decision, hopwever, was based on cultural, religious belief, not, as Shmuly suggests, scientific evidence. He further equates single sex education with a justification for total separation of the sexes. In fact, much of what he suggests as the rationalization for his decision is not supported scientifically.
Rabbi Boteach writes that “Overexposure to the opposite sex had made us all ordinary to each other.” If by that he meant that he was able to communicate better with members of the opposite sex than...