Do Women Prefer Better in Single-Sex Schools?
Shadaysha Fair
EN112-03
December 12, 2011
Research Paper
Do Women Perform Better in a Single-Sex Education Setting?
School is a place to learn; although co-ed schooling is one of the first choices on the list for parents and young adults, single-sex schools are also equally good. In the 1990s, students, parents, and educators began to believe that single-sex education was a rising solution to gender inequalities that were popping up in mixed-sex educational settings. Generally speaking, boys respond better to a more active teaching style. In fact, a study by Richard Restak in 1988, showed that boys had an early advantage in visual acuity and have better spatial abilities involving three dimensional space. An early study by Restak also revealed that girls are more sensitive to sound, and more attuned to the social contexts of situations. This explains why girls tend to be more cautious about participating in discussions. As they get older, boys and girls become different and distract each other from both academics and also because of normal social or sexual development (puberty).
The problem with co-ed schools is that there are more pubescent distractions, competiveness, and harassment from one another, but being in a single-sex setting will enable students to pay more attention to their studies. Single sex schools will benefit because each gender will be able to focus more without being distracted from the opposite sex. Women learn better in single-sex schools. While being in a co-education environment, students tend to become distracted and less focused.
Coeducation gradually emerged during the 19th century as a dominant practice in the United States, first it began in primary and secondary education and then later into the college level. At the time, it was cheaper to have boys and girls in one room together. Feminists soon viewed co-education as a necessary step in women’s emancipation.
Being put in a single-sex environment will give students the
EN112-03
December 12, 2011
Research Paper
Do Women Perform Better in a Single-Sex Education Setting?
School is a place to learn; although co-ed schooling is one of the first choices on the list for parents and young adults, single-sex schools are also equally good. In the 1990s, students, parents, and educators began to believe that single-sex education was a rising solution to gender inequalities that were popping up in mixed-sex educational settings. Generally speaking, boys respond better to a more active teaching style. In fact, a study by Richard Restak in 1988, showed that boys had an early advantage in visual acuity and have better spatial abilities involving three dimensional space. An early study by Restak also revealed that girls are more sensitive to sound, and more attuned to the social contexts of situations. This explains why girls tend to be more cautious about participating in discussions. As they get older, boys and girls become different and distract each other from both academics and also because of normal social or sexual development (puberty).
The problem with co-ed schools is that there are more pubescent distractions, competiveness, and harassment from one another, but being in a single-sex setting will enable students to pay more attention to their studies. Single sex schools will benefit because each gender will be able to focus more without being distracted from the opposite sex. Women learn better in single-sex schools. While being in a co-education environment, students tend to become distracted and less focused.
Coeducation gradually emerged during the 19th century as a dominant practice in the United States, first it began in primary and secondary education and then later into the college level. At the time, it was cheaper to have boys and girls in one room together. Feminists soon viewed co-education as a necessary step in women’s emancipation.
Being put in a single-sex environment will give students the
Cited: H Cooper , Mary, Brian Hansen , Kenneth Jost, and David Masci. "Single-Sex Education Do all-bo and all-girl schools enhance learning?." Congressional Quarterly . 12.25 (2002): 569-592. Print. J Sax, Linda . "Women Graduates of Single-Sex." n. page. Print. "National Association For Single Sex Public Education (NASSPE)."Single-Sex vs. Coed: The Evidence. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov 2011. <http://www.singlesexschools.org/evidence.html>. Reeves, Thomas. History News Network. N.p., 11/1/2006. Web. 15 Nov 2011. <http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/31378.html>.