Single-Gender Education is a Viable Option in the Public Sector - Research Paper Example

The U.S. education horizon has been facing this challenging question of single-gender education as an alternative to the decreasing educational standards leading to a society loosening its grip on moral values it used to cherish and inculcate among the U.S. youth. With the publication of ‘A Nation at Risk’ by the National Commission on Excellence in Education in 1983, the public schools were made targets for increasing wave of mediocrity in maintaining educational standards. Performance of all students in public schools has been lack-luster.

Among a number of steps taken to improve the falling education standards such as setting accountability, similar curriculum, and wide school reforms, another issue has been to offer and increase school choice within the public school system. It is argued by the supporters of single-sex schools that innovation can play a positive role by providing the choice through single-gender education and get parental backing. Choice in the selection of a school on gender preference has been encouraged through different types, such as magnet schools, charter schools, and voucher programs.

Gender equity in schools has been another issue as proved in the research conducted by Datnow, Hubbard, & Woody (2001) on gender bias against girls in coeducation schools. The past history on girls’ education has been one of ignoring the useful feedback by the school administration; girls have been found hesitant in taking science and mathematics as subjects at senior level, and face increased fear of sexual harassment.