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.
Even though single-gender schooling sounds like a new, innovative concept, it has actually been around since the settlement of the original colonies from England. Surprisingly, its roots are discriminatory: in colonial times, boys were taught science, writing, and arithmetic while girls were only taught how to cook and sew. This is a major reason why single-gender schooling has such a negative perception associated with it.
“In 1972, the U.S. congress enacted Title IX of the Higher Education Act, a federal mandate that demanded schools treat students equally, regardless of race or gender. This law forced hundreds of public single-sex schools to close their doors…...
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...chools. Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, Electronic Theses & Dissertations. Pg. 1-114
Stanberry, Kristen. Single Sex Education: The Pros and Cons. Great Schools Association.
Strauss, Valerie. The Case Against Single Sex Schooling. Washington Post Newspaper. June 4, 2012.
Talbot, Margaret. The Case Against Single Sex Classrooms. The NewYorker Newspaper. July 12, 2012.
Wills, Robin; Kilpatrick, S; and Hutton, B. (2013). Single-Sex Classes in Co-Educational Schools. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 27:3. pg. 277-291.
When I was about to enter kindergarten, my parents initially wanted to enroll me into an all-girls preparatory school. However, my parents changed their mind and believed that co-ed schools had better opportunities and a better way to create more diversity in our society. Some may argue that single-sex schools have been proven to have students attend and graduate from four-year universities. This then allows both respective sexes to focus on their studies rather than their appearance and physical attraction. However, single-sex schools are only going to lead to segregation and separating genders in the classroom should not be a place for it to bloom from. communication with the other sex is important to where it preps students for the real world. Though single sex and co-ed schools have both pros and cons, co-ed schools provide a more realistic portrayal of what would happen in the professional working field. Co-ed schools provide and develop social communication skills between both genders instead of one.
According to Leonardo Sax, the founder of the National Association for Single-Sex Public Education, “...whenever girls and boys are together, their behavior inevitably reflects the larger society in which they live” (Stanberry, 3). (1) It is a part of nature for girls and boys to socialize and get prepared for the real-world and develop skills to interact with another gender. (2) In the real-world it is conventional for both genders to work together and communicate everyday. (3) According with the journal “Forbes”, when students are separated by gender, they miss an opportunity of working together with different perspectives and developing their own, new, and unique thoughts as well as ideas (Saunders, 1). (4) Advocates often argue for schools to be a reflection of a ‘real’ world to prepare young adults for the future (Jackson, Ivinson, 15). (5) When both genders learn together, they learn from one another and benefit from absorbing various learning styles (Saunders, 4). (6)
Did you know that single-sex classrooms are the worst classes ever? Over the past decade, single-gender classrooms have been opened in at least 230 schools in the rural, suburban, and the urban areas. Single-gender classrooms are classrooms where either young girls’ are in one class together, or young boys are in another class together. Single-sex classrooms were created because studies showed that boys and girls learn differently and they could benefit from being in a classroom with peers to whom they can relate. Since 2008, single-gender education has been the key to improved educational performance among boys and girls throughout the years. Today, gender differences among girls and boys are steadily rising in the classrooms they are in, and single gender classrooms are increasing. Teachers go by the theory that “separate sexes meant equal education.” While some educational experts believe single-gender education is best, parents have begun to notice the development of sexual stereotypes, and the children work better together. Furthermore, single sex classrooms cause more students to fail and have behavior problems. Reasons for this are: students are more distracted and lack focus, boys and girls develop sexual stereotypes, their learning abilities are different, and single sex classrooms cause boys to be very problematic.
Education is the main base for everyone in today’s society. There are several factors that could affect one's education. Statistics show that single sex schools have been shown to receive higher test scores than their coeducational counter-parts, therefore, one of the most important factors that could affect one's education is whether they attend a single sex or coeducational school. The separation of genders during education has been considered a great importance because it has been shown to be able to increase a student’s educational achievements and quality of his or her work. The use of single sex education has been used since the 19th century, with the common idea being that if boys and girls were separated during the school day, it would allow for fewer distractions in the classroom. To this current day, many people still believe in the use of single sex education, which is still being utilized in many areas of the United States. This issue is on a national level due to it being an issue that needs to be addressed by the whole country. In light of the increase of single-sex schools, the United States government must require schools nationwide to offer a less distracting environment without the opposite sex in all subjects, which provides each sex with greater self-confidence and higher academic success.
In this paper I will use a multitude of research that shows scholarly evidence on why single sex education is harmful to one’s over all wellbeing and physiological health throughout one’s life. Single sex education is defined, as “the practice of conducting education where male and female students attend separate classes or in separate buildings or schools”(Pinzler, p. 785, 2005). The controversy over single sex education involves aspects such as its effectiveness and social ramifications of binary genders. Supports of single sex education believe that there are fewer distractions because everyone is of the same sex. Supporters also believe single sex education is also seen as a way to break down stereotypes such as women not doing well in the math and science field. They believe that single sex education helps males also break out of typical gender roles such as hyper masculinity. However, proponents believe separating girls and boys makes little to no difference in their academic achievement and is actually more harmful to your identity.
Our education system has changed drastically over the years. Students are becoming more intelligent at younger ages and the students’ performance in school is surpassing those of over thirty years ago. But what about the students that don’t learn as fast? They are left behind. According to David Brooks, a New York Times article states, “many of the people who don’t fit in are boys” (43). Some kids just can’t pay attention, or the information doesn’t click; boys particularly. Many studies have shown that boys are learning at slower paces compared to girls and I think that our education system needs to be aware of this rising issue and make changes. Educators need to adapt to this by teaching students, especially boys, at an individual level. One way to achieve this is by transitioning to single gender classrooms.
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).
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
Michael Robert Younger, M. W. (2006). Review of Single-Sex Teaching in Coeducational Secondary School in the United Kingdom. American Educational Research, 579-620.
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 single-sex format creates opportunities that do not exist in the coed classroom. (Edison 1) Researchers are unaware that both genders brains function differently. This lack of knowledge may be why the real truth about single-sex education being more efficient than co-ed education has not been discovered. Some say single-sex education may be the key for a brighter generation. It shows to improve test score dramatically. The number of public schools experimenting with single sex classes is now reported to be more than 350. (Silva 130) Some research also shows that single-sex classes have a more welcoming atmosphere. Single-sex education improves grades while coed educations keep an average pace.
Single sex education is a controversial battle that will most likely continue for decades. However, research and studies have shown in multiple cases and circumstances that single sex education is an extremely important tool that should be utilized in numerous situations. Many people think that dividing students based on sex will perpetuate gender discrimination; however, this kind of education may bridge more gaps than people realize. Not only do boys and girls develop and function differently, they are distracted by one another. Eliminating distractions and making classrooms conducive to each gender and learning style will ultimately result in a tremendous incline in academic grades and student participation.
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.
Single-sex education has shown to be effective in helping students maintain their focus inside the classroom and learn better by doing so. The distraction of the other gender is not present in the classroom environment which enables the students to primarily focus on what they are learning. According to Pahlke's article titled "The effects of Single-Sex Compared With Coeducational Schooling on Mathematics and Science Achievement: Data From Korea", s...
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...