Does single gender schooling benefit students academically?

People have different thoughts on single gender schooling. Some think it helps, some
think it doesnt help, and others dont think that it doesnt make a difference. There are different
reasons that people have these opinions on single gender. For example, in studies single gender
schooling is proven to improve behavior for boys especially. Also the girls were always afraid of
being made fun of by the boys and visa-versa but in single gender education it's all girls or boys
so it reduces bullying. Another way is in single gender schooling enables teachers to teach the
specific gender in a way that they are able to understand the best. For example, ``the boys have
shorter concentration spans so we break up the day a lot more,'' she said (Phillips). Teachers
know how boys learn so they are able to teach the boys in a way that it most efficient.
Researchers ponder on the question; does single gender schooling benefit students academically?
In mixed classes students are scared of asking a question because they are afraid of
getting made fun of by the opposite gender. In mixed classes, you are too nervous to ask a
question and be wrong and the boys might laugh at you (Spielhagen). This shows that in single
gender schooling girls are more likely to talk more and ask more questions to clarify because
they arent fearful of what the opposite gender is going to say. This means that they are probably
going to understand the material better since they ask clarifying questions. In single gender boy
classes, boys are more likely to get picked on by other boys. Even though bullying from the
opposite gender is eliminated in single gender classes boys still make fun of other boys. Also, in
some ways it's really nice to be youre your friends, but sometimes the girls get catty, and it is
hard to get space away from them (Spielhagen). When there are a bunch of girls there is going
to be some drama. In single gender schools it may be fun to be with other girls, but the girls can

be vicious and when you need space you cant get it (Spielhagen). Single gender schooling does
not guarantee the students to not be made fun of.
In single gender schooling arrangements behavior has been supported to improve. Boyfriendly classrooms, which cater to the developmental and behavioral differences of the male
brain, positively impacts learning in males(KesselsHannover). These classes are specialized to
help boys have better classroom behavior. The boys may have different behaviors in single
gender schooling because they are trying to impress girls or for other reasons. During another
study, fifty-nine percent of the boys stated that their behavior has exceeded (KesselsHannover).
Another group of people that believe that single gender schooling helps boys behavior are
teachers. Teachers believe that the single-gender format positively impacts boys' behavior in
school, their attitude toward school, their participation in school, and their ability to complete
class work and homework(KesselsHannover). Not only do teachers believe that single gender
schooling helps boys with behavior in school, but also they said it helps their attitude and their
participation in school. Another fact that states that behavior is improved in single gender
schools is that concern over state standardized test scores prompted Hudson Valley Middle
School to create voluntary single-sex classes (Spielhagen). This schooling was pondering over
the idea of single gender schooling arrangements because they knew it would help create a
distraction free environment for the students to learn in. This they hoped would result in higher
test scores.
Younger students seem to be more excited about single gender schooling (Spielhagen).
Single gender schooling is beneficial for students in different ways. For younger students it helps
because at a young age both boys and girls in 6th grade referred to their opposite-gender peers
as "noisy" and "annoying (Spielhagen). Younger students tend to not like the opposite gender

because of different reasons. To avoid the immature behavior that happens if both genders are
together it would be best to separate the genders.
The last reason that people consider single gender schooling as an option because it is
proven to help kids focus more. "I can concentrate better. I am not afraid to raise my hand.
(Spielhagen). This is what a thirteen year old said after experiencing single gender schooling
arrangements for a year. She liked the arrangements so much that she decided to stay in single
gender schooling even though she had the choice not to. In another study, the majority of
students have good opinions on single gender schooling, and 62 percent of them stating that they
focus better with these arrangements (Spielhagen). This statement shows that most students had
positive feedback on single gender classes because they felt they could focus better. A reason
why concentration and focus are vital to learning is because when the kids are focused they are
able to understand things that other students may not be able to since they were paying attention.
Also, 7th graders always commented on their ability to pay attention better in single gender
classes (Spielhagen). Some policymakers argue that single-sex classrooms enable students to
focus better and to learn through gender-appropriate approaches. Others believe it's better for
students to learn in mixed groups that are more reflective of society (Thiers). This states that in
single gender schooling the teachers are able to teach the students in a way that they can
comprehend the best. The teachers can form learning strategies that will best suit the gender.
Teachers and administrators are trying to define how best to teach girls (Stabiner). Their goal
is to focus on what ways girls learn the best and teach them in that way. In boys only schools
they do the same thing. ``The boys have shorter concentration spans so we break up the day
(Phillips). This statements shows that in boys only schools they saw how boys learn the best and
they made strategies in order to keep the boys focused throughout the day.

Parents dont always send their children to single gender schools for reasons just stated.
While others dismissed it as a short term fix for wealthy families who could afford privateschool tuition (Stabiner). Some parents send their kids to single gender schools just because
they can afford it. These parents may not be aware of the advantages of single gender schooling
and the disadvantages.
Many people disagree with the question of, Does single gender schooling benefit
studen.ts academically? Overall, my opinion is that it does. Even though there are trade-offs for
this decision the yes side out ways the no side. One statement that helped with my decision is the
s specialize in the way that the specific gender is able to learn best. Another reason I think that
single gender schooling benefits students academically is because girls like to work with girls
and boys like to work with boys. In single gender schooling they are always able to with their
same gender which makes them work better together. These are the reasons why I think single
gender schooling helps students academically.

Works Cited
Spielhagen, Frances R. "How Tweens View Single-Sex Classes." Educational
Leadership 63.7 (2006): 68. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 6 Feb.
2014.<http://search.ebscohost.com >.

Stabiner, Karen. All Girls: Single-sex Education and Why It Matters. New York:
Riverhead, 2003. Print.

KARA, PHILLIPS. "Boys Are Better In Class Without Girls." Advertiser, The
(Adelaide) (n.d.): Newspaper Source. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.

Thiers, Naomi. "Do Single-Sex Classes Raise Academic Achievement?." Educational

Leadership 63.7 (2006): 70. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.

Piechura-Couture, Kathy, PH.D., Elizabeth Heins, PH.D., and Mercedes Tichenor,

ED.D. "THE BOY FACTOR: CAN SINGLE-GENDER CLASSES REDUCE THE OVERREPRESENTATION OF BOYS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION?" (n.d.): n. pag. Web.

Kessels, Ursula, and Bettina Hannover. "When Being a Girl Matters Less:
Accessibility of Gender-related Self-knowledge in Single-sex and Coeducational Classes
and Its Impact on Students Physics-related Self-concept of Ability." British Journal of
Educational Psychology (2008): 273-89. Web. <http://www.bpsjournals.co.uk>.