Education and gender
School are considered to be the second home of a child’s life. Parents are always concerned about the academic life of their children and how school will contribute to their personality as they spend most of their time away from home which makes parents think twice about choosing the appropriate school and with the increasing of single sex education across the country makes their choice more difficult. For many years it’s been a controversial subject among parents whether their kids should enter a single or a mixed sex school. This essay focus on the reasons why single sex education is beneficial on the performance, academic and physiological levels.
Performance of girls in class is considered to be more active in an all girl environment school. Firstly it enhances the possibility that girls are taking more risk asking question in class with confidence, without being made fun of and most importantly feels more comfortable answering. Gross (2014) reason that “alleged benefits of single-sex education are that they would be learning in an environment in which they are encouraged to participate more in class and not overshadowed by confident, outspoken boy”. Secondly girls or boys in a class are able to explore more ideas and ask a variety of questions that wouldn’t be asked if the other sex was present or if there was an opposite gender teacher for example certain subject in biology will need to be taught more precisely and students may ask freely without feeling shy or being afraid that their question might be out of the box and that’s definitely makes them better learners.
Academic level of the pupil is on a continuous progress in a single sex school because there are lesser distractions. It is believed that females are better in certain subject that they would not have gotten a high grades in it if they were in a coeducational school as they are viewed as a boy’s subject and they would have felt embarrassed participating in it such as maths and computer science and the same goes for male students. While boys are likely to pursue a wide range of activity in art and music. Additionally girls or boys have fewer distraction and more focus on their studies which helps them getting higher grades. A Florida comprehensive assessment test was taken to measure the differences between the two types of education to measure the achievement in maths and literacy, Bailey (2012) argues that “ Only 59% of girls in mixed classes were scored as proficient, while 75% of girls in single-sex ones achieved proficiency.
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
“Gender disparity” refers to the differences between the percentages of men and women obtaining college degrees. Hulbert coveys the different ways in which young boys and girls process information. Women tend to be better at reading, writing, and verbal skills, while men tend to better at math and sciences. By sixth grade, young boys tend to lose interest in literature and are often struggling in subjects such as English and reading, while young girls are often losing interest in math and science by sixth grade. Boys perform consistently below girls on tests of reading and verbal skills. By high school, girls tend to score in the middle or average; however, boys tend to score either really well or rather poorly.
With the ongoing issue for women’s rights, it is important to teach the younger generations to accept the differences in gender and to treat everyone as equals. Although people gravitate towards single gender schools because of it allows students to connect easier as a family, the segregation of genders may cause a rift between gender equality. A study by Liben, a university psychologist, and her graduate student Lacey Hilliard, found that highlighting gender promotes stereotyped views in children as young as 3 (Novotney). By teaching children to close the gender gap at an early age, it can decrease gender inequality. Also, reports claim that female students in single gender schools are less likely to consider science or computer based classes, also known as,“boys classes” (Yates). Co-ed schools on the other hand, allow boys and girls to interact together meaningfully and learn to gravitate away from the common image of gender roles. A 1998 study shows that, “[g]irls at the coeducational schools tended to take more science courses and do better in the college admission process. Statistical analysis from her study shows that graduates of coeducational schools were more likely than graduates of all-girls ' schools to have careers in law, computers, scientific research, and psychology” (“Coeducation at WT”). Not only do co-ed schools teach gender equality, but they also allow females to
In the United States, there is a rising problem that is not going anywhere anytime soon, that is if we, as citizens, don 't change it. This problem is causing billions of dollars and people 's futures all because schools would rather teach ignorance than the truth. What’s the problem? Sex education. Although sex education may not seem like a rising conflict, it is actually one of the top controversial topics in our country regarding education. According to Brigid McKeon, “Each year, U.S. teens experience as many as 850,000 pregnancies, and youth under age 25 experience about 9.1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs)” (McKeon). This number is so unbelievable to any sane person, but somehow schools still won 't take the initiative to teach realistic sex education. Sex education can be taught in two different procedures- comprehensive or abstinence only. The difference between the two methods is that comprehensive sex education teaches abstinence as a secondary choice, so that teens who decide not to wait are well educated on how to keep themselves protected. Comprehensive sex education should be required in every single public school because it is the most effective method on how to keep teenagers well informed and prepared.
Why would anyone want to go to an all girls' school? This is a question I have often pondered. Can you imagine school without the obnoxious comments from boys, football games, and gossiping about boys? This doesn't sound like a lot of fun, does it? You girls may think about this and decide there are no advantages to an all girls' school, but in reality, all girls' schools have many. Believe it or not, having boys around is not the most important factor in our education. In fact, boys in the classroom are actually a setback. All girls' schools are more advantageous than coeducational schools because there are fewer distractions, you will have a higher self esteem socially and academically, and you will be more successful academically.
Why should comprehensive sex education be allowed in schools? Should teens be exposed to comprehensive sex education? Sex education should be taught in school because it give children stable and accurate information , it informs them of the danger and diseases associated with sex, and it teaches them about safe sex options.
Students are more focused and therefore have better test scores in single-sex classrooms. Although stereotypes are formed because of separating genders, a study in the 2009 British Educational Research Journal concluded that in single-sex classrooms, girls achieve more in math and science while boys achieve more in English (Kwong). Stereotypes have been developed early on of what girls and boys are more proficient at. Naturally girls are better at English; boys, math and science (compound sentence: elliptical construction). Single-sex classes encourage girls to pursue more in science and math and boys in English because it takes away gender stereotypes. If a boy and a girl are in the same science class working together, the girl becomes the scribe to write down data while the boy is doing the experiment (Kwong). Math and scien...
Finally, there is no one sex school is going to be right for every student. There are many advantages and disadvantages mentioned in that essay before. But it's thought all over the world that the coeducation is preferred worldwide. About 90 % of schools all over the world are stuck to co-education. Mixed-sex education has achieved higher success rate. They also graduate students who are settled emotionally and able to deal with the real society. "There are not any dominant blessings for single-sex schools on academic grounds. Studies all over the world have failed to expose any major variations.'' - Academician Alan Smothers, director of education and employment analysis at the University of Buckingham 2011.
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...
Education is a vital tool that every young person needs to be able to start a life of their own. Without education it becomes harder to find a steady job and a stable income. As with any important resource, there are so many debates surrounding different styles of education. One major style of education being debated today is the idea of single sex education. The idea of essentially segregating students based on sex seems outrageous to some people. However, dividing the sexes may be a necessary and important new way to heighten the learning experience.
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...
Pahlke, Erin, J.S. Hyde, Mertz, J.E. “Effects of Single-Sex Compared With Coeducational School on Mathematics and Science Achievement: Data From Korea.” Journal of Educational Psychology 105.2 (2013): 444-452. EBSCO 18 February 2014.
This problem occurs in schools everywhere and is starting to become more evident in today's society. The problem is that boys and girls learning potential are not being reached when put into the same teaching atmosphere. Girls seem to be out smarting boys in many classes. While boys excel in math and sciences and girls seem to be better in English. The styles in which boys and girls feel comfortable with are extremely different. The learning styles of girls usually contain socializing and context. For instance, most girls like to talk in small groups about the current discussion. They also like hands on activities or real life situations to compare things to. Boys are confrontational and formal. They need to be challenged by their teachers to help motivate them to become better students and be prepared. In contrast girls do not like to be confronted by teachers who are asking for an immediate answers. In most cases, girls seem to be more reserved and modest than boys about their intelligence ("What are someÉ) are. Their differences may not seem evident but make a difference to reaching their highest learning potential.
During the recent decades, there have been increasing reforms of education system. In particular, the Congress of the United Stated began to carry out No Child Left Behind Act to promote single-sex schooling programs in 2006 (Hayes and Pahlke and Bigler, 2011). Although mixed gender education, also known as coeducation, has still dominated the leading position around the world since the end of 19th century, a debate about whether it is really beneficial for teenagers’ comprehensive development has never stopped. In this essay, it will be argued that a mixed gender education should be avoided.
The condoms display in the Hidden Heroes: the Genius of Everyday Things exhibit is a showcase that would cause an individual to wonder about adolescents’ overall knowledge of human sexuality. In today’s society, children are susceptible to learning about such a delicate topic not only from their families and peers, but through the media as well. These sources often provide misrepresentations of the information due to ignorance and biased views. Therefore, in order to inform individuals more accurately, sex education programs have been created with the intention to be implemented into schools across the country. This has led up to being one of the most controversial issues hovering over educational institutions, where the inclusion of such programs has been hotly debated. However, recently, the dispute is not so much about whether sex education should be taught in schools, but rather what content should be taught and what approach should be taken.