Disadvantages of Same-Sex Schools - Essay Example

Undoubtedly, there are both advantages and disadvantages between the two systems of education. What is essential to look at is whether the advantages could outweigh the disadvantages such as in same-sex schools. As we all know intelligence is not only measured by academic achievements alone but also by the emotional state of a person.

Am I going to look like a geek if I answer another question? Do I have to play sports to impress the girls?” (Fidelman) In contrast, adolescents in co-ed schools are always flooded with these issues on their minds instead of concentrating on their academic lessons which should be the most essential task (Fidelman).

            Disadvantages of same-sex schools

            However, the disadvantages of same-sex schools are far more numerous than their advantages.  Schools should be a training ground to enable the students to be ready for the real world.  In the real world, not only females dominate the world. In same-sex schools, the emphasis is usually on female role models.  The students’ role models for best teachers are female, their role models for best athletes are female and the list goes on. Furthermore, ``single-sex education is inconsistent with the goals of this nation’s public school system to develop an educated population able to transcend barriers of race and gender in society” (Single-sex education is an unwise policy). “This is the argument of NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU of Michigan which filed suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of four girls seeking to have the single-sex schools enjoined” (Single-sex education an unwise policy). Additionally, more studies show that only females will benefit from same-sex education while boys will not (Single-sex education is an unwise policy).

            “Pupils felt co-education also leads to improved social and personal development. Both girls and boys in co-ed school said they were more self-confident, well-balanced and better equipped to make new friends than their counterparts in single-sex schools” (Why co-education?). Friendships occur naturally among pupils in co-ed schools because most activities and clubs allow both female and male pupils to participate in a supervised manner (Why co-education?). This environment as we all know is a replica of the world outside the school which is not present in same-sex schools. “Co-education is the most realistic way of training young girls and boys to take their places naturally in the wider community of men and women because a mixed school is a natural imitation of the outside world” (Why co-education?). Finally, another advantage of co-education schools over same-sex schools which is not present in same-sex schools is that the entire members of the family such as brothers and sisters can attend in the same school. This will allow the pupils to “know their brothers and sisters at a much deeper level than would otherwise have been possible (Why co-education?).