Gender School Research Paper

The world is made up of girls and boys, and men and women. Most schools in the United States have the same goal: to prepare students for their life in the future. The different types of schools, such as single-sex or coed, want students to succeed in college and/or at a job. The main reason for separate gender classes is to conquer obstacles of each gender in a customary class setting. Leonard Sax, the founder of National Association for Single-sex public Education said that “Whenever girls and boys are together, their behavior inevitably reflects the larger society in which they live.”

“Did you know America ranks the lowest in education but the highest in drug use? It's nice to be number one, but we can fix that. All we need to do is start the war on education. If it's anywhere near as successful as our war on drugs, in no time we'll all be hooked on phonics” -Leighann (Lord) Leighamm Lord is a comedian, but when it comes to the education of children, she takes it very seriously and it is not so much a joke to her. Children are the future, and giving them the best education available is crucial to the future. Making decisions in the educational system would not only better the future, but the children’s future. These changes of segregating classrooms, will give the children a better working environment, to improve test scores, and academic advancements. Research shows that segregating classrooms would be a great step to a successful future; however, conflicting arguments to the negative and positive impacts of segregating classrooms to consider.

In the mix of everything, I have found many reasons why Single-Sex Education is the right choice, and why it can also be the wrong one. Single-Sex Education is successful because it offers: comfort, less drama and good grades. Co-Education, Single-Sex Education’s “enemy,” is successful because it offers three things that Single-Sex Education doesn’t; which is: gender interactions, different leveled classes, and lastly, no enrollment fee. This is a reason why many parents prefer it because of the benefits of not as much money having to be spent.

In female based classes the teachers are known to be more delicate and understanding, while in male classes the teachers tend to have a more authoritarian approach (Schroeder 71-73). The teachers having different ways of treating the students symbolizes the problem of sexism. Concepts such as this rise the question equality (Strauss). There is a specific example brought about by a court case in 1954: Brown v. Board of Education. It states that things can be separate but they have to be equal. Although the initial case was referring to race, the main meaning behind it still stands. All classes aren’t going to be equal if the teachers (not each individual teacher, but teachers for boys and girls) have different classroom expectations (Piechura 21). This is where the main problem falls in the case of single gender education. Parents wishing to enroll their child in school want to provide their son/daughter with an equal opportunity with a chance to thrive academically. If the teachers aren’t giving each boys and girls the same shot is it actually worth it? Yes. The teachers classroom expectations are built to match the needs of the gender, not the opposite

Imagine being a parent of a son or daughter and their being distracted by the opposite sex in class? Many parents like to believe that the opposite sex can be very distracting. The world should recognize that single gender schools can be more effective in several ways then coed schools can be.

One of the benefits of attending single sex schools is that it may be helpful for outcomes related to academic achievement and other powerful aspirations. Some of the advantages of attending a single sex school are that students are readily eager to work hard and compete amongst themselves, other than feeling embarrassed or being easily distracted by students of the opposite sex (Lee, 2008). Additionally, males tend to overestimate their academic abilities; while females generally underestimate their abilities and work harder to compensate. Single sex schools, can also broaden the educational prospects of students, by removing the disparities of “male dominated subjects” vs. “female dominated subjects.” Studies show that students attending single sex schools feel more welcoming and confident in their choice of studies.

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

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.

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.

Life at an all boys school is a real learning experience. Classes without girls, boys who are different from the excepted norm are afraid to be themselves because people like me wouldn't want to be around them, and an easier and better way of learning is what a boy will find at an all boys private school. So if your a boy who plans to attend an all boys private school, don't believe everything that people say.