Same gender education, anyone? - Page 2

[duckling]

I went to an all-girls school for 8-10th grade, and co-ed schools for all the rest of it. As far as my all-girls school experience went, I loved it. I have a more stereotypically "male" learning style and personality, and I thought it was a great fit for me. There was so much less cattiness in the social scene because there wasn't dating drama immediately present, for the most part.

I felt like girls were much more comfortable being smart and outspoken in that environment than in co-ed settings, which was/is really important to me. I'm smart and outspoken and I loved being surrounded by other girls who were similar. I felt much more pressure to "dumb it down" in co-ed school--and I'm queer, so it certainly wasn't about me trying to impress the guys. It sucked being the only girl in class who was willing to give the right answer or admit to doing well on a test. Also, guys seem to hit social maturity a good five years later than girls--class was so much more focused and productive without guys throwing textbooks at each other/starting belching contests/fistfighting/hitting on me.

There were greater opportunities for girls to take on leadership roles, which was a really powerful thing, even for the girls who were not leaders. In such a patriarchal society, it was awesome to have a bunch of smart, feisty female leaders.

Some of my friends were in all-girls schools k-12, and they don't seem to have a particularly different understanding of or relationship to men. On the other hand, I know guys who were in all-boys schools k-12 who have no idea what to do when confronted with a girl.

I think if you and your daughter like the school, then go for it. You're not committing to an entire life there--if your daughter eventually decides she wants to be in co-ed school, you can cross that bridge when you get to it.

[aprilgurlie]

An interesting idea!

I teach 4th grade at an elementary school in Iowa. I have read a lot about alternative schooling options and I would love to try same-sex schooling! I would take a classroom of girls any day. Or a classroom of boys, for that matter. In my experience, the most conflict in this age is boy vs. girl, or vice versa. The kids try to be cool in front of each other, because they are developing crushes at this age. I would totally go for it!

Next year, a 5th grade teacher and I are trying something new as well, although it is not same sex schooling, it still may increase the education the children are receiving. We are planning on looping with our kids- so the kids I would get next year I would teach and then take up to 5th grade, having them for 2 years, and then she would move down to 4th and have those kids for two years. This way the 2nd year the kids already know the rules and procedures, and more time can be spent learning. There is also more time to build relationships with the students, something I am a big advocate of.

As parents, what do you think of that option? Would you like your child having the same teacher for two years?

[yogamama]

I am a strong believer in single gender education! It's not for all kids, but it really benefits girls as they get into higher grades. I work at an all-girls high school (my alma mater) and the school provides opportunities for girls that would not exist in a mixed gender school. In an all girls school GIRLS take all the leadership roles and they don't shy away from academics. I love that! Studies also show that girls who attend single gender schools are more likely to pursue careers in math and science.

On the flip side, I wish I could send my son to some all-boy classes. He is VERY energetic and is having trouble in a traditional classroom. I think the expectations for younger grades is that boys and girls learn the same, but studies show that girls are better at reading and writing at an earlier age. I think he would benefit from NOT being with girls at this age, because he really feels behind compared to what the "smart girls" in third grade can do, while he struggles with the same material.

I will definately send my daughter to an all-girl high school, but I'm not sure about my son. Studies show that high school aged boys benefit from a mixed gender environment. So, we will see!

[Flor]

Originally Posted by junipermuse

Single sex schools just seem like such an artificial environment (not that school in general isn't somewhat artificial with the everyone divided by age and stuff), but I think since girls have to interact with males outside in the real world they might as well do so in school.

I've heard this a lot, and while I can't say it isn't true, it's just kind of funny when I was in a co-ed high school of only 40 kids I kept hearing it wasn't the "real world" and I was going to have a real shock when I started college, then I went to a women's college with only 800 students so, again, I had classes with like 10 other students. I kept hearing that this wasn't the "real world" then I did national service with Americorps which had about 35 women and 5 men, then went to grad school at a big university in the education department were we again had about 60 women and 10 men. Now I teach at a big urban middle school-- with about 40 women and 8 men. I'm still waiting for the shock of the real world to hit me!

I also had mostly male friends in highschool and was really worried about going to an all women environment. I found that the women who chose to go to a an all-womens school and just the environment itself made a place where I actually found true women friends for the first time.

Rather than no preparing me for dealing with men, I left feeling like I could do anything with any coworker. It's a cliche, but I found my "voice" and everything I learned about gender, power, etc. was useful later in a co-ed workworld.