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Gender issues in the classroom eassy
Debate against single gender schools
Gender issues in the classroom eassy
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In recent years there has been a great debate on whether single-gender classroom enables students to focus better and boost academic success. Numerous studies and research have been conducted to investigate the advantages of single-gender schools and classrooms over co-educational schools and classroom settings.
To further investigate the advantages of single-gender schools and classrooms over co-educational schools and classroom settings, an interview was carried out from an eighth grade math teacher from Tomah Middle School who implemented the single gender program as her Master’s Degree program project when the No Child Left Behind Act eased restrictions on these types of programs. She decided on this project because were not too many all-girl and all-boy classroom existing up to this point. So this teacher decided to further research and study on this topic. This teacher used two different curriculums, one for her all-girl classroom and another in the all-boy classroom. She found that, the all-girl classroom worked well in a cooperative environment. While the all-boy classroom worked well in a more competitive environment. So far this teacher has found many benefits in implementing the program which includes:
• More time on tasks
• Less behavior problems
• Students are focused on learning
• Less distraction from the oppose sex
This teacher’s goal is to provide a learning opportunity that students have never been exposed to before. While, it is still too early to tell if there has been any measurable benefit from the program, from all the students who participated in the program, some students have stated that the class has had an impact on their learning. Students from Tomah have stated that they feel more confident and the...
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...n most from such schooling. In addition, the opportunity for a longitudinal study would truly benefit research on this topic. The single-gender class innovation is a strategy that can thrive and becomes a useful tool in co-educational schools, but only with a lot of planning, the application of research to the school’s unique context, or may become yet another short-lived educational fad (Granville, 2012).
Reference
1. Assignment Education: Single-gender Classroom, 2009, retrieved from https://youtube.com/watch.tv.com.
2. Granville, P., 2012, Investigating Teachers’ Perceptions of an Educational Innovation: Single-Sex Classes in a Co-Educational School, Retrieved from uwispace.sta.uwi.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2139/13957/Phebe%20.
3. Stanberry, K., Great Schools, 2014, Single-sex education: the pros and cons, retrieved from http://greatschools.org.
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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
The main concerns for most people, especially parents, are what can the students learn from the classes and how can they apply it to their lives. In some cases, people feel as though new methods of teaching the subject would bring better results, such as lower t...
Natbony, Jessica. "Sex Education in Schools." Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law. 11. (2010): 273-296. Print.
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.
Because young boys are more active they often are disciplined, while girls are often quieter and naturally become a teacher’s favorite. This causes problems because classrooms naturally become more attuned to a girl’s style of learning, leaving young boys behind in the classroom from an early age. “Boy Problems” by Ann Hulbert goes into detail over the increasing “gender educational disparity.” Hulbert gives the reader useful information about how and why men are falling behind and the increasing gender differences in education. When fixing a problem one must first realize the problem exists. Now that the problem has come to light, action must be
Learning about gender-equity issues simply by reading or hearing about them is not the same as seeing, thinking about, and reflecting on examples of them. In a 1997 article, Levin and Matthews explain that teachers and teacher educators need to be made aware of gender-equity issues in the classroom so they can encourage both boys and girls to take an interest in math, and science. Levin claims that teacher education programs have inadequately prepared teacher to address gender-equity issues. I think that it is easy to overlook the gender bias in your classroom. I think that self-assessment is necessary in determining treatment of all members of the classroom. Teachers should distinguish between strategies which favor or oppose certain groups, and should influence policy makers to provide equal opportunities for learning (Underhill, 1994).
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).
There are numerous views on the concept of single sex schools, and if they are beneficial or actually detrimental to the students who attend. Autin (2015) states that while it is normal for public schools to be coeducational, many private and parochial schools have been operating single sex schools for many years. One of the many main controversial topics when discussing these schools is stereotyping. From the pros to the cons, this paper will touch base on many different views as to how students can be affected positively or negatively by attending these single sex schools.
Same sex classes make it possible for teachers to cater to student needs in a more efficient way. In general boys benefit from hands on learning, but girls benefit from calm discussions (Mullins 3). Girls tend to doubt themselves while boys think they can do anything. Boys need to be brought down from the clouds while girls need to be dug out of a hole (Mullins 3). David Chadwell says, "Structure and connection are two key concepts when examining gender in the classroom. All students certainly need both, but it seems that teachers need to consider the issue of structure more with boys and the issue of connection more with girls" (7), and Kristen Stanberry’s research has shown, "Some research indicates that girls learn better when classroom temperature is warm, while boys perform better in cooler classrooms. If that's true, then the temperature in a single-sex classroom could be set to optimize the learning of either male or female students" (1). These observations further support the idea that same sex classrooms can cater to student’s...
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...
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.
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...
As an educator, there is always room for reflection and growth. Being in this class has provided an opportunity for both. From my knowledge gained in this class I believe that I have become smarter and have learned how to implement different tool into my teaching as well as general life as a teacher. Of the topics discussed in this class, commitment to students, avoiding burnout and reflective practices had the biggest impact on my professional growth.
Hoffman, Bobby, B.A. Badgett, Parker, R. “The Effect of Single-Sex Instruction in a Large, Urban, At-Risk High School.” Journal of Educational Research 102.01 October 2008: 16-28. EBSCO 18 February 2014.