Single Sex Schools Have A Positive Effect On Learning

As adolescent children start their first step in education, they don’t question whether they’ll be secluded from the opposite gender or not. Many have started or transitioned into single-sex education schools or classes more frequently since parents have been exposed to researched benefits. Although many people look upon single-sex education in opposition, there are many opportunities and advantages that single-sex education proposes. Large cities often had single-sex schools, among several coeducational public schools, that were selective of students who attended before World War II, but was still able to carry a large population. As this was concerning to administrators, Title IX was passed in 1972 to ensure the equality of every educational program, that was funded by the government, regardless of sex because they wanted to prevent discrimination. Single-sexed education was then prohibited, however, the Department of Education wanted to weaken the interpretation of Title IX since further research showed the benefits of single sexed classrooms in co-ed schools.

Due to the research conducted and the No Child Left Behind Act was passed by George W. Bush in 2001, the amount of single-sex public education has increased significantly (Fratt). Single-sex education was then seen to help the differences in learning styles of males and females. Single-sex classrooms are created if they enhance the achievement of students and provide versatile opportunities, while single-sex schools are created if the district can set up a school that is equivalent to one or both genders (Scarpa). These systems of educations are only put into place if a serves as an advantageous purpose to the student population. These systems are created to benefit and ensure the best education of children in which neither gender is excluded. There are those who believe that single-sex education creates an atmosphere of inequality. Research involving the different learning styles of the two genders had caused “gender stereotyping” (Scarpa). People often feel as if the research gathered subjected the males and females to be taught the way others say is beneficial but is felt to not always be correct. Single-sex classrooms enforce the difference of learning styles from the beginning without a predisposition of what techniques work for certain students and what does not. The single-sex education process is not necessary if teachers are educated about how males and females learn in diverse ways and how to adapt to each student. More so, the single-sex classes don’t prepare children for the real world (“Separate but equal?...make waves”).

The real world is a life of integration where you’ll come into contact with other genders, different races, facing a lack of or too much attention, and power. By separating the males and females into different classes their education will show higher performance but can put a strain on their social development. Although these aspects concern parents of children attending schools and officials of the department of education, teachers don't have enough time to teach one concept in multiple ways and help students who are not understanding the first time a new lesson is taught. Furthermore, in single-sex schools, the two genders interact, yet when focus on their academics when they reach into their single-sex classrooms.

When teaching in single-sex classrooms, teachers are more readily prepared on how they’re going to precisely teach their students. The single-sex classrooms enable teachers to tailor their lessons based on gender which first occurred in subjects including language arts, math, science, and social studies (Fratt). It was seen that the single-sex classrooms benefited the majority of students since the lessons conducted had intrigued them and they were able to easily understand. Single-sex classrooms have been shown to decrease the learning gap between males and females when it comes to core subjects such as math and science. The learning gaps are decreased due to the tailoring of teaching styles in which males respond to “prove it to me” methods, while females respond to more “nutur[ing]” teaching styles (Fratt). Male and female have innate characteristics that cause them to respond more readily to individual teaching styles. Different teaching approaches include conducting a “competitive” learning style that intrigues boys to learn as seen in the all-boys math class at Ronald McNair Middle School in Lake City, South Carolina ('Separate but equal?... make waves'). Males often tend to respond to techniques involving competition, while females lean toward more of a walk through the lesson with examples.

Single-sex education provides teachers a chance to enhance their teaching and have the majority of the students move at the same learning pace. Single-sex education allows students to focus more on their academic abilities inside the of the social aspect within school hallways and classroom. For example, single-sex classes and schools have shown, especially at Warrior School in Jefferson County, Alabama, that there was a decrease in disciplinary issues and an increase in grades ('Girls vs. boys... the rules?'). It also allows students to feel less self-conscious when the other sex is around because children feel indirectly pressured to fall under the gender stereotyping of having to act a certain way. For instance, in Toby Prices all Boys school, boys are said “not afraid to be smart” when females are not present in the classroom. Males are often underestimated when in the presence of females because females are always looked upon to have an overall high academic performance rate. This causes a chain reaction leading the males to focus on excelling in athletics. Results of single-sex classes include not just an increase in grades, but participation within the classroom. Single-sex classrooms enhance not only education but provide a role model standpoint for adolescent children. A child's first role model is usually their parent of the same sex and their character is enforced more when encountering other exemplary figures (Mullins). A single sex classroom allows for young boys to be exposed to male figures other than their father. Adolescent boys can absorb the actions, values, manners, and behavior of a male teacher in a single-sex environment at a constant rate unlike in co-education systems where there tend to be more female teachers and faulty.

Since there are more female teachers, adolescent girls are exposed to other admirable women other than their mothers more than boys. Being in a single-sex classroom or school benefits boys as it allows them to interact and look up to several male figures that are reputable. Some concerns include whether single-sex classrooms can cause a delay in social development, however, it has allowed girls and boys within these environments to mature at their own speed. Studies have shown that girls mature at a faster pace than boys which can cause a disruption in the classroom in co-ed schools. Boys create an atmosphere of rowdiness, while girls tend to be calmer and focused in a classroom setting. When working together, a handful of boys and girls are distracted from their work (Mullins). Placing them in separate classrooms allows the genders to grow independently of each other and strengthen their maturity. Single-sex classrooms require students to have their full attention on their academics. As an adolescent coming into high school, co-educational systems don't have a silver lining between ones social and academic life (Mullins).

Students are at a stage where they have become emotionally involved with the opposite sex that has caused a predisposed distraction before entering a classroom. These thoughts and emotions are increased when they are always in the same area as the person and can cause a decline in their classroom performance. Separating the genders allows the 'out of sight out of mind' process where one isn't consistently reminded of what is going on in their social life. Single-sex schools enable parents to become more involved in their children's social development. As a parent, sending your child to a single-sex school allows you to effectively plan and discuss specific topics regarding sexual content with their child when they think they are ready. Unlike single-sex classrooms where your children are exposed to the opposite sex outside the classroom, parents will have to create settings at home in which their children can interact with the opposing gender. Parents can be around and create a safe space for the kids whereas in schools parents are not always aware of the type of encounters their child may have. Co-educational schools can cause a child to keep their social life separate from their parents (Mullins). Children develop a social life that isn't necessarily guided by anyone but happens progressively without the parents' knowledge. This causes children to not bring their friends home and parents are not able to control or help situations concerning their social life. Single-sex educations, whether it pertains to only classrooms or entire schools, allows children to flourish academically and individually. Adolescents are able learn in environments that are designed for them learn at their pace and to become more involved in the classroom setting. Single-sex educations also allow children to grow, regarding maturity, progressively and enables parents to take on a more prominent role in their child’s social development.