Single-sex Schools
In the 1990s, there were a mere 2 single-sex schools present in the United States due to legal restrictions placed on sex-segregation facilities; however, as laws — the No Child Left Behind Act, Breckenridge ruling, and the Wood County ruling — have allowed for single-gender educational facilities, this number has risen to approximately 500 schools (Lewin; NASSPE: Legal). Popularity of single-gender schools stems from the academic success of their students as show by their test scores and proficiency scores. Biologically, males and females differ in development; therefore, they also require differing methods of teaching. Although critics say that differences in brain development between males and females are insignificant, test scores and college admittance rates of students from single-sex schools demonstrate a higher proficiency in the academic field; therefore, schools should be separated by gender.
According to the National Health Institute, males and females possess different rates at which they reach their “inflection point”, brain development’s halfway point (Sax). The institute’s study reveals that female brains reach their inflection point at approximately the age of 11, while males reach their inflection point at approximately the age of 15 (Sexual Dimorphism). This difference in brain development between the two genders warrants the use of single-sex schools over coeducational schools as it allows for methods geared towards these differences. In a single-gender school, teachers will be able to accommodate these differences by changing their methods to fit the rate at which their class’s gender learns. Teachers can tailor their methods according to the differences and better allot their time in th...
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...ical development differences between genders, an increase in assessment scores, and it provides an opportunity to break down prevailing gender stereotypes in society. Therefore, schools should be separated by gender. When students are separated by gender according to their different development patterns, teachers are better able to accommodate the weaknesses and strengths of each gender thereby allowing students to strengthen their academic skills. The lack of distractions in single-gender schools provides students an opportunity to focus on academics and improve their proficiency. Allowing students to learn and develop in an environment free of the gender roles that prevail in coeducational schools, breaks down gender stereotypes that prevail in today’s society. Separating students by gender allows students to reach their full potential and lead lives of success.
It seems that single-sex education perpetuates gender stereotypes and promotes gender bias among students (Taylor). Gender-separate education requires schools and teachers to create gender-oriented courses, facilities, and learning environment. As a result, sing-sex schools exacerbate sexist attitudes and “feelings of superiority toward women” (Guarisco). It is fair to argue that the best way to achieve gender equality is to promote rather than eliminate interaction among girls and boys. However, girls in the sex-mixed class receive less attention from teachers than boys, which may lead to gender bias. More precisely, boys always have disciplinary issues, such as interruption; teachers have to pay more attention to boys’ behaviors in order to proceed the lecture more smoothly. Girls may feel less important and supportive in male-dominated classes; boys may think that males are smarter and far superior than females. Single-sex schools can address both girls’ and boys’ issues of gender stereotypes directly and accordingly. Male students may be freer to engage in some activities they have not considered before in mixed schools. For example, boys feel pressure to follow some non-macho interests when girls stay around them; however, the all-boys schools eliminate their pressure toward gender stereotyping to pursue music, dance, and drawing. Single-sex schools would help boys explore and develop themselves. Also, girls in sex-separate schools show more confidence and power (Guarisco). They could receive full attention from teachers and express their opinions in science classes without worrying about the boys’ banter. They may realize that they are as important as boys. Hence, both girls and boys can be free from gender stereotypes and benefit from a same-sex learning
From the very beginning of life boys and girls are already different. The common topic of discussion is which gender’s brain matures faster. People often hear that girls mature much faster than boys. In fact this is not true; the genders don’t really play a part in the maturation process, because it is all about what you are exposed to in life. Although research has shown girls to have way more verbal skills through the preschool stages, but it then declines drastically around age seven . Girls have also been proven to do better than boys in reading and writing all the way through high school. Most of these studies were done in co-ed schools. Studies have shown that single gender schools are more helpful for both genders. The statistics were basically the same from these types of schools. I do think your brain matures faster based of the things you are exposed to. When these say research was done globally, the statistics varied, some siding with girls and some in favor with boys. So this proves, that there is a real gender difference, but there is not a proven gender maturation rate in the brain.
Sadker, Myra, David Sadker, and Susan Klein. "The Issue of Gender in Elementary and Secondary Education." Review of Research in Education 17 (1991): 269. JSTOR. Web. 14 Mar. 2012.
Brooks argues that male and female brains work and experience things differently. He suggests that this theory is also the reason as to why young girls are surpassing their male counterparts in school settings. He incorrectly assumes that by separating males and females, males will be allowed to break free from gender stereotypes. Brooks strengthens his argument with results of brain research on sex differences. But, Brook’s argument is unpersuasive. He categorizes all young males, and suggest that single sex-schools are the best solution for them. He wants to apply a black-and-white solution to something that is just not that simple. While Brooks uses comparisons and surveys to convince the reader, his argument simply does
Sending a child to a gender based school, is a very big decision to make. The decision is so big, that looking at what research has to say about the topic could alter one’s decision to send their child to a gender based school. “Educators must apply different approaches in teaching make, and female students” (Gurian). This is said by Gurian, because he also believes that boys and girls learn differently. “Social pressures can be gentler and your child can learn at his own pace” (Kennedy).
Imagine your life with only members of your gender. Not all the time of course. Just during your school day or even part of your school day. Same sex classrooms would make that imagination your reality. Before you turn down the idea, because god forbid you go a few hours without seeing a cute boy take a moment to learn about all the benefits same sex schooling can provide. Most students are against same sex schools. They want to flirt with the cute guy in math or ask the shy girl in history for a pencil even if they already one. Same sex classrooms provide a multitude of benefits, because they promote better behavior, higher grades, improved self-esteem, and are able to cater to student’s needs.
School reforms are not a new concept or trend; they have been developing since our nation’s educational system was founded. School reforms are an attempt to make the education system better; in effect, making our children more prepared to compete globally. The school reform that I have decided to research is single-gender schooling. This is the idea that students perform better academically when they are in classrooms with only classmates of the same sex. I have only had one (experimental) class like this: my 6th-grade science class. Whether or not being in a room with all males improved my test scores compared to my other classes or other students with mixed-gender classes, I have no clue, which is why I decided to research this school reform. It was definitely a different experience, but like many others, I wanted to know if it works. Because of it does, this could be a revolutionary discovery to benefit America’s next generation. However, there are opponents to single-gender classrooms, and we will hear what they (and the proponents) have to say about the subject.
Causes of Attending Single-Sex Schools vs. Coed Schools Traditionally, schools have been coeducational, but in today’s world, single-sex schooling has become much more prominent. Whether the whole school consists of just one gender or classes are broken up by sex, mainly private schools are the ones that have implemented single-sex learning; but recently, many public schools have adopted the single-gender learning environment. In fact, there are now over 445 public schools that offer single-sex schooling (Novotney). Parents often debate which type of schooling exceeds the other, and they wonder what caused the other parents to pick the other type and what effects this decision will have on a child.
The teacher tossed a Styrofoam basketball to the outstretched arms of a fifth grade boy. Catching the ball was the incentive for the boys to point out missing conventions in a paragraph. The teacher projected a paragraph on the board with omitted punctuation for the students to add. The other boys in the class watched him as he went to the board to add the missing comma and then tossed the ball back to the teacher. A few seconds later, other arms shot up in the air to point out other missing conventions (Stotsky). A simple incentive of competition for the boys made them enjoy learning and actually got them to participate in class. Although single-sex classrooms can develop stereotypes for both genders, separating boys and girls can be beneficial for the students. Single-sex classes are more effective because they raise test scores, create fewer distractions, and make kids interested in school.
The proponents of single-sex education argue that boys and girls have differing needs and that their styles of learning are different. Education which respects personal differences must take this into account. ( Mullins 124) Single-gender schools seem logical, than, to a public that accepts that gender differences are real and likes the idea of expanding choices. (Silv...
The first all female schools began in the early 1800’s. These academies favored more traditional gender roles, women being the home makers and the men being the bread winners. The first generation of educated women was the result of single-sex colleges in 1873. Wendy Kaminer, an investigative journalist, states that “single-sex education was not exactly a choice; it was a cultural mandate at a time when sexual segregation was considered only natural” (1). Women of this time were technically not allowed to attend school with males. Feminists of this time worked hard to integrate the school system and by the early 1900’s, single sex classrooms were a thing of the past. In 1910, twenty-seven percent of colleges were for men only, fifteen percent were for women only and the remainders were coed. Today, women outnumber men among college graduates (Kaminer 1). After all the hard work of early feminists, there are thousands of people today who advocate bringing back the single sex classroom.
Some people think that single sex schools are good because girls and boys feel free to talk, ask and raise their hands without being made fun of, "The theoretical approach termed 'girl power' argues that girls lag behind boys in some subject in co-ed classrooms." (predit, 2014). However, Single sex schools are very bad because it affects children attitude, they will find difficulty in communicating with their colleagues in college as they were secluded and didn't interact with other sex in school. Boys and girls should know from a young age how to deal with the opposite sex, instead of facing that when they become adults, and don't have experience on what to do. Students in single-sex classrooms will one day live and work side-by-side with members of the opposite sex .Educating students in single-sex schools restrains their chance to work helpfully and cooperate effectively with parts of the inverse sex. "It is not long before the youth of today will be the parents, co-workers and leaders of tomorrow" (strauss, 2012). "Anything we organize along any variable, if we're saying boys he...
Education has been an important factor of all of our lives for an exceptional amount of time, but unfortunately, America has been falling behind from other nations in their education system compared to other nations (Pahlke 444). Almost all of our public schools in our country are coeducational and only handful of them are single-sex educational schools. Single-sex education should be taken into high consideration for most students to attend because of the benefits they might gain from them. It is important to look at all possible ways to try and better our education system for the benefit of the children and teenagers attending school. The most important years of schooling that provide a solid background for all students would be kindergarten through senior year of high school. It provides the basic knowledge and problem solving skills that will be utilized for most of our lives. In order to ensure that the children and teenagers today are provided with the best quality of education, we want to make sure they are engaged and focused in school and single-sex schools will be able to make that possible for students. Not only will it help our students remain focused in the classroom, it will also provide a comfortable environment for them in which they can enable themselves to learn.
How does gender segregation effect students in school? Many countries believe that separating genders in schools helps to make a better atmosphere and better academically. There are many advantages have been shown for single-sex schooling. It has been shown that the differences of the performance in school subjects can differ from boys to girls, many supporters believe that gender segregation in education helps increase the academic interests. Teachers have been attending training to learn how to teach girls and boy. Girls and boys supposed naturally different ways of learning (Gurian, Stevens, & Daniels, 2009). Many public schools support the segregation in education in the other hand there are some private schools support the gender
Rosemary Salomone is a professor at St. John’s University School of Law, and she wrote the article “Rights and Wrong in the Debate over Single-sex Schooling” which was published in the Boston University Law Review, which says that in the United States elementary schools always had boys and girls share the same classroom (973). Single-Sex schools starting showing up in the seventies. Colleges separated boys and girls. Colleges like Princeton, Yale, and Harvard were only offered to boys, and the girl colleges were not supported financially enough and did not did meet the girls learning needs (Salomone 974).