Do Children Learn Better in Boys-only and Girls-only School - Research Paper Example

Do children learn better in boys-only and girls-only school? Education as a form of learning is diverse and in the process knowledge as well as skills is passed to the student. Values and habits too are adopted in the process, and that’s why it has been an important part of the society we leave in. Education can further be considered as a significant experience that has formative effects on the way students act, feel or behave in their environment. Finally in a broader context education is considered wealth of knowledge obtained by individuals after studying a particular subject or experiencing a life lesson with an aim of understanding something. Basing on these aspects ranging debates have developed on the environment in which passing of knowledge to students should be. More specific has been the issue of separating boys and girls as they acquire these important aspects of life called education. Single-sex education that is commonly considered by many as teaching girls and boys in a separate school or classroom is a historical approach to teaching that is slowly gaining grounds in contemporary societies. This approach of teaching as for many years been associated with many private schools but currently it is noticeable that many public schools are also embracing it as a tool to impact knowledge to students. Many educational surveys and studies conducted indicate that single-sex education is increasingly being acceptable and embraced by many. Key to these new ways of thoughts is tired to the opinion that there are natural variations in how females and males learn. This is to say, ability is considered to vary in males and female. Putting these studies into play, however, has in recent day’s triggered debate that stretches beyond pure academics. Civil rights, political, social, economic and also legal concerns have come to play. Various arguments have been leveled for and against the reasons for separating boys and girls from learning together and the basis for the arguments are based on opinions rather than facts. It is important to give the opinions for those who reason for separating boys and girls in different learning environments. One reason, for encouraging separation of the girls and boys during the learning process, is based on the argument of negative morality. Advocates of this thought argue that through separation we are able to bring up a generation of upright and moral individuals. It is debated that most of the societal evils like fornication begins at very early stage of growth. By separating boys from girls by taking them to different schools, may to a greater extend lower the cases and encourage a morally upright society. In supporting their views, further the say education should help students grow as individuals. It should open their mind to many things that they haven’t been exposed to previously, and separation of boys and girls during the learning process allow for healthy discussion on difficult subjects of life. Good morals are also developed through this approach. The advocates for the separation of boys and girls claim that at school environment the students are mostly alone, and these situations provide an opportunity for developing morals particularly when boys are mixed with girls. Education should introduce students to different cultures and thought processes that they could not be exposed to otherwise. Achieving the goals of education according to the advocates is actively to develop structures that individually assist the students of various genders but avoid mixing the students during the learning process. For instance, “Bush believes in striving to meet each child’s needs in the public schools, so that it’s not just the private sector that can afford this kind of option” (CBS News, 2002). The second argument, for separating girls and boys during the learning process, has been in the fact that ability varies with sex. Advocates for the technique have argued that female ability to comprehend is much lower to that of boys particularly in science subjects. In their view, separating boys and girls provide the instructor with the chance to understand each gender ability and help improve their academic potentials. Separating boys and girls in the learning process to them enhance students success when instructors use various techniques geared towards their gender of students. Various arguments have been based on the challenges students face. It is true that “America’s schools have many problems, and there is no one solution,” says Baumeister, author of “Is There Anything Good About Men?” (Oxford, 5). “But if there is one suggestion that is likely to yield solutions, it is to allow experiments.” Finally the advocates for separating boys from girls in classrooms or schools use the argument that some reports and studies from educators indicate that children learn better in girls-only and boys-only schools and separation can broaden the educational projections for both boy and girl. “Studies have found that female in single-sex schools show greater success in math and science, develop even more self-confidence, are more probable to exhibit leadership qualities, and pursue degrees at a higher rate than counterparts who attend coeducational school” (Starr, 9). Advocates for this technique claim co-ed schools tend to strengthen gender stereotypes, while schools, where the genders are separated, can break down gender stereotypes. For instance, girls are freer of the pressure to compete effectively with their counterparts in male-dominated subjects like as science and math. Boys, likewise, can more easily indulge in traditionally "feminine" interests like as poetry and music. The advocates of the technique claim that the basis of these stereotypes makes learning not to be conducive hence learning loose its meaning in our society. I hold a view that single schools never improve the education for students. I can support the Argument of many other academicians that there exist no scientific evidence supports the view that separation of girls and boys during the learning process results in better academic outcomes. These views are often based on the flawed notions of a very few educational consultants. One reason to support my argument that children can’t learn better in girl-only and boys-only school is bases on gender stereotyping. There is no well-structure study showing separation of boys and girls during the learning process improves students academic performance, but there exist evidence that sex segregation raises the case of gender stereotyping and legitimizes institutional based sexism. By the virtue that students spend more time alone than with the teachers, separating boys and girls won’t improve performance as both boys and girls may develop stereotypes against the opposite sex. It is contrary to many peoples opinions that the separation of boys and girls in schools improves education. The approach in fact never achieves the goals of education that goes beyond the grades in class. Education should enable a student adopt better in their workplaces and families. Education system should be about improving an individual’s life. It is also a fact that the students in single-sex schools today will one-day work and live side-by-side with colleagues of the opposite sex. Educating these students in single-sex schools automatically limits their chances to co-exist well and work cooperatively with members of the opposite sex. Closely related to this fact is that even in reality, few teachers are formally trained to apply gender-specific teaching techniques to their students. As a conclusion, I am of an opinion that children never learn better in girl-only and boy-only school. There are a lot of challenges that the system brings to the education sector. Moreover, education system is very dynamic and drastic measures should be taken to ensure its efficiency instead of shallow focus. Students grow mentally and preparation to their work environment and families is important, and this is achievable if students of different genders learn to leave side to side. Furthermore, education is far more than the grades students receive in schools. It’s about understanding deeply right from wrong and possessing the knowledge students need to stay afloat in contemporary society. Education should help to develop students’ perspective on real issues and the world around them and pushes them to think both creatively and conceptually about many different subjects. The only way there can be the ideal value of education is through understanding the challenges the students will face in the future. “Although coeducational approaches have failed in other regions, there is no showing that it is coeducational factor that have results in failure “(Kaminer, 9).The reality is when both girls and both learn together they achieve a lot more. Work cited Top of Form Salomone, Rosemary C. Same, Different, Equal: Rethinking Single-Sex Schooling. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003. Internet resource. Bottom of Form Read More