Single Sex Classrooms

Some have argued that kids and teens are able to focus and have a more profitable experience in single-sex classrooms due to the differences in how boys and girls learn. Although not all boys and girls learn in a completely different manner, one organization, NASSPE, argues that it's more a way to “celebrate the diversity among girls and boys”. Some parents also believe that having their kids in a single-gender classroom setting will break down the “gender intesification” that occurs in co-ed classroom settings. For example, at co-ed schools, a girl who wants to play football may be told “that's for boys” or a boy who wants to read poetry will be told “that's for girls.” In other words these stereotypes set up by co-gender peers will limit students in learning to the best of their ability. With that said, the NASSPE also argues that children learning in a stereotype-free classroom, boys will be mroe likely to explore the language and the arts and girls will be more likely to explores sciences and different forms of math.

I do not agree that boys and girls would profit more from attending classes that are restricted to boys or girls. Co-ed interaction is neccessary for social interaction. The idea of single-sex classrooms for maths, sciences, and arts are, however, a good idea. Students could take single sex science/math/art classes during elementary school and middle where stereotypes are often at their peak. However, signle sex classes should not be needed in high school. High school is a time where teenagers are discovering which career path they would like to take in life and exploring that through electives in the maths, sciences and arts are a big part of that. The classes should be co-ed because that's the way the world is. There are no single sex work places and there are not many single sex colleges. In the real world, young adults need to learn to pursue what they love in life, no matter what anyone else thinks of that. We can only protect children from stereotypes and judgements by their peers for so long.

Comments

[alexandria cruz]

I agree with you and what you argue. Co-ed interaction is very necessary for social interaction. This goes with what I was arguing in my post too. In the work force, boys and girls are going to have to interact and HAVE to think together too. They need to be used to working together on things that will require thinking. I also agree that for certain classes, such as math and science, a single-sex environment would benefit some for focusing on the way certain girls and boys think (because after all, there is a difference in the way girls think from the way boys think). Those are difficult subjects and sometimes it could be easier and more beneficial to have someone (a teacher) focus in on the way you specifically think. However I still believe that there should be some interactions there too. Maybe a solution would be to have a week out of a month to do single-sex learning. Or to dedicate a certain amount of time and resources to single-sex education, while at the same time (or the rest of the time) devoting to co-ed education. Perhaps tutoring could be single-sex, therefore you can not only focus on the way your gender thinks, but the way YOU think. By making single-sex schools, what’s next? Single-sex jobs? Didn’t woman fight for their rights to be equal to men? Now there are people who think otherwise. Parents would not want their children to be discriminated from jobs, so why should they teach their children that any place should discriminate? I like your statement, “The classes should be co-ed because that's the way the world is.” It’s true, the world won’t change, and it shouldn’t. Men and women are equal and that is the way they should be taught (at least a majority of the time).