Earlier this week I underwent a very successful interview where I was complimented on my maturity and ability to answer questions honestly and openly without hesitation. Because of this, my interviewers asked me some questions about the type of high school education I received. After talking about my all-girls Catholic High School, one of them remarked, "you seem to have had quite a different high school experience from other students here." Upon hearing this, I really started to reflect on what was so special about my Alma Mater. I was amazed at how surprised he truly was about my passion for my former classmates and the education I received. After my interview, I began to ponder the following question - What made being educated at a single-gender high school so different from a similar education at a co-ed school? This is a hot topic all across the country, and there have been many different schools of thought on the subject. Pun intended.
Although there are a lot of people who will argue that coeducational environments have more benefits, I believe that the following are some of the positive things that can come from a single-gender classroom setting.
Students are more likely to be themselves
Boys tend to soften their competitive edge when in a single sex setting and they, in turn, become more collaborative. Girls are more likely to drop their shyness and take risks in a single sex setting. Studies have shown that in coeducational settings, boys are more likely to answer questions than girls. But in single gender schools, students are more open to answering questions in the classroom and talking about their ideas, without fear of embarrassing themselves in front of the opposite gender. Girls have been shown to be more likely to join new extracurricular activities or take part in school sports at single-gender schools.
Once students are more confident with themselves and their individuality, it becomes even easier for them to interact with members of the opposite sex. A common misconception is that people from single-gender schools have no idea how to act around their opposite sex, and I will argue that until i'm blue in the face.
Teachers have better relationships with students.
In coeducational schools, teachers have been more likely to praise guys for answering questions without asking for permission to speak in class whereas, if a girl says something without raising her hand, she may be chastised. Teachers were also more likely to expect boys to solve problems on their own, whereas girls are more often assisted. Teachers have demonstrated that they value boys' comments more in a classroom setting than those of female students in a study done by NEA researchers. Now, these were just the results of few studies, but I think they speak volumes for how the intelligence of boys and girls are viewed very differently.
There is a stronger emphasis placed on self-worth and intelligence rather than physical beauty.
In single sex schools, girls are encouraged to be authentically themselves. They are taught that their self-worth is more important than anything and that they are the true key to their own happiness. There is no need for makeup and putting on a "mask". Some schools, such as the one I went to, required uniforms, so everyone was always wearing the same thing. No one competed to have the cutest outfit. Everyone was comfortable in class, and the emphasis was on learning, not trying to impress the cute guy sitting in the adjacent seat in physics. And I think most boys from single sex schools would agree that it was easier to learn without distractions from girls.
Students are more likely to take courses in a variety of subjects.
Boys in single sex schools are more open to taking a variety of courses in the arts as well as more challenging academic classes, without fear of being stereotyped as "nerd." The same can be said for girls.
The things above are both based in educational studies and observations I made during my time in high school. I was fortunate enough to experience both types of schooling in my life - coeducational and single-gender. After experiencing coeducational middle school, I knew that I wanted something different for high school, and I believe that my single-gender school has helped me to become the person I am today. The social pressures were much less, and I was challenged to be fearless, independent, curious, and intellectual.
I am not saying one type of education is better than the other. Many of my friends have come from coeducational public schools. I will say, however, that single sex schools are becoming much more appealing to parents nowadays because they challenge gender stereotypes. Girls are encouraged to pursue the sciences and mathematics without being called a "tomboy" and boys are encouraged to develop curiosity in the arts as well as athletics to develop a well-rounded mindset and personality. I don't believe there is truly one form of education that will work for everyone, but understanding what some studies show about the different types of education can be extremely helpful when deciding what schools to attend. It's all about personal preference and figuring out what works for you.
"The greatest thing about going to a single sex high school was that we learned never to be dumb for boys. We had no restrictions on our intelligence to impress them." - My fellow alum, Daniela
