Should High Schools Segregate Students by Sex - Essay Example

Should high schools segregate by sex? al affiliation: Should high schools segregate by sex? Segregating students by sex entails admitting students from only one gender. The subject and debate between proponents and opponents of the same sex schools is a hot subject that takes different angles as each day dawns. Whereas proponents of sex segregation claim that students achieve greater performance academically, opponents claim that this is not the case. Opponents of sex education hold that a mixed schooling system where boys and girls learn under one roof helps alleviate any impartation and disparity between boys and girls.

Plato, the philosopher who advocated for fairness of girls introduced the concept of mixed schooling students. Sex segregation in secondary schools is detrimental to students and teachers in a number of ways. One is that segregating high school on the basis of sex sets idealistic societal environments. Same gender classrooms produce societal environments, which do not reveal the emblematic social experience. A single gender classroom does not give students the chance to know the opposite sex, as well as how they work and react.

Therefore, students become cut off from understanding and acquiring experience to the perspectives of the other gender. This creates a further demerit for students who may not have sufficient opportunities outside the school environment to broaden their experience. High school students are in the identity formation stage that requires one to understand the other sex. As such, students might not learn the distinctive and acceptable behavior of the other sex, hence becoming gender-centric in their viewpoints (Lapidus, Martin & Luthra, 2009).

Mixed schooling system promotes healthy competition between both boys and girls. There is a natural inclination between boys and girls to battle and be considered as the winner. Promoting mixed education is a perfect way to foster healthy competition, which usually brings out the best out of students. Proponents of single sex schools hold that brain differences between girls and boys call for different teaching methods. However, neuroscientists have found few distinctions between males and female brains and none has been associated to diverse learning methods.

Same sex classrooms may create the environment that breeds and perpetuates gender stereotypes. Rather than building supporting surroundings where girls feel more positive in articulating their viewpoints and boys feel confident to practice arty attempts, stereotypes may be reinforced by instructors. Gender typecasts are intrinsic, and segregating females from males may not inevitably lead to an addition in the number of girls who undertake science and math interrelated careers. A team of psychologists asserts that students attending sex segregated schools are not essentially better educated than mixed school students.

However, they are more likely to believe in gender typecasts (Science Daily, 2012). Mixed system of schooling is economical in terms of resources such as land and finances. In areas where there may not be sufficient land to build separate schools for girls and boys, a mixed schooling system serves the best in utilizing the scarce resources. Additionally, in states that have inadequate funds, a mixed schooling system will help utilize the available funds economically. Moreover, a mixed education system helps a school to manage human resources with efficacy as there are few classes to deal with.

In comparison to same sex schools, mixed education systems are more cost-effective. A mixed education system enables students of both genders to build confidence. It has been shown that students from single sex schools lack confidence as they do not have exposure. In addition to building confidence, mixed schools promote diversity. Students who mingle with other from the opposite sex are better placed to interact with diverse people in future situations. Sex segregation limits the level of interaction with the opposite sex, which may ripple over to the places of work.

Socially, same sex segregation may result in difficulties of adjusting to mixed sex environments. It may also affect ordinary social growth aspects like dating. Additionally, it is worth noting that tokenism and other kinds of sex segregation in high schools may have effects, not only for students but also for teachers. Under the present state of affairs of sex segregation in most educational institutions, students learn that although the majority of teachers are females. However, the policies and regulations are set and imposed by administrators, the majority of whom are males (Saha & Dworkin, 2009).

An educational system typified by rigid gender hierarchies, which are culturally and traditionally rooted does not appear to be the finest sort of environment to foster gender equality among students. Moreover, such a system does not foster them to make the types of nontraditional job-related choices that may bring to an end to sex isolation in employment. As such, same sex segregation of high school students should not be encouraged. References Lapidus, L., Martin, E. & Luthra, N. (2009). The Rights of Women: The Authoritative ACLU Guide to Women's Rights, Fourth Edition.

New York: NYU Press. Saha, L.J & Dworkin, G.A. (2009). International Handbook of Research on Teachers and Teaching. New York: Springer press. Science Daily. (2012). Sex segregation in schools detrimental to equality. Retrieved on 20 March 2013 from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110922141910.htm.