Question of the Week Archives

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Grace Florence - Louisville, KY
Both my husband and I attended seperate schools of single-gender while we were in high school. I think it helps high school aged kids stay focused on learning. I wore a uniform to school. I didn't stress about impressing other girls with my wardrobe. I definitely did not worry about boyfriends during the school day. There were many learning advantages in the classroom. For example the teacher now focuses the learning on the girls, making sure all the girls "get" the information. A lot of times in a mixed high school classroom teachers hear from the outspoken boys and not as much from the girls. Teachers assume that everyone in the classroom is mastering the material. In an all girls high school I felt "safe" asking questions if I didn't understanding something.

Rose Marie Meany - Whittier, CA
Having attended both high school and college in all-girls' schools, I have some things to say from my own experience.

First, the BAD: The high school prom seasons were always hard because many of my friends and I were not the type to go out and "meet boys." Prearranged "dates" by teachers were usually a disaster. That's all I can think of!

The GOOD: Think of the distractions public school two-gender classrooms had, even in the past--to say nothing of the sexually charged, Hollywood-influenced teen culture of today. No competition from aggressive boys in class; no embarrassment when boys might laugh at girls during science or other classes; little worry about keeping up with latest trends (well, there probably is that even at single-gender schools today, though very little in my younger days); far less discussion about boys during free periods, lunch time, recess, and even in class. Minds were not so obsessed with boys that it interfered with studying and with getting "obsessed" with education. For shy me, it was heaven to go to a girls' school and graduate with honors!

Cathy Atkinson - Brisbane, QLD
I attended a single gender school all through my high school years and I have to say not having the distraction of males made focusing on learning just a little easier. Far fewer distractions. I never felt I was lacking in confidence or experience in interacting with males. It just was never an issue. The only negative - girls can be very "catty" on occasion and can make life fairly dismal.

Beth Roueche - Greenville, SC
I have been teaching in a gender-based middle school for 3 years now. I came from 15 years experience in high school science. I have seen a major impact in the girls and their excitement towards learning. Chemistry is something they were very enthusiastic about. I teach from the state standards and they both (girls and boys) take the same test. I used bath salts and cosmetics to teach solutions and mixtures to girls. The boys used silly putty, "snot", and gross stuff. They both made comments to the affect that science class really goes by too fast. Some of my worst discipline problems are "tuck your shirt in" and "spit out your gum". The attitudes and confidence is greatly improved in both genders and they are excited about science. This is like heaven.

Sandy Lorick - Greenville, SC
As a middle school math teacher at a school with single-gender classes, I see so many advantages of single-gender education for both boys and girls. The single-gender environment benefits both the boys and girls academically and personally.

Done well, a single-gender class allows the boys to become role models, leaders, and mentors. The boys learn to help each other and work together.

Girls in single-gender classes become more confident and sure of themselves. They also become leaders and role models.

There is much more to single-gender education than just separating the boys from the girls. The benefits and advantages of single-gender education that I have seen are the result of extensive and continual professional development provided for all teachers at the school.