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Do children learn better in single-sex schools?

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Yes		37%	199 votes	Total: 539 votes
No		63%	340 votes	Total: 539 votes

16 of 22

No

The question I'm answering is slightly different from the one that's being asked; I know of no evidence to back up the claim that students learn language arts, science, and math better in single-sex schools; but even if there were such evidence, this would be entirely beside the point.

Single-sex schools are WRONG, on fundamental moral grounds; they are no more tolerable than "separate-but-equal" racial segregation.

Single-sex schools make a variety of unjustified and stereotypical assumptions about gender that are not only unfounded, but morally detrimental; they reinforce beliefs about the sexes that are no more reasonable than "girls have cooties." They also exacerbate problems of gender identity: at least a male student who does not have traditionally "masculine" (whatever that means!) traits and interests can associate with female students at a coeducational school (where he'll have a hard enough time as it is).

Nor does the basic rationale even make sense: while there are some statistical differences between the sexes, there is so much overlap between the two-especially in childhood, before society has the chance to enforce its rigid gender roles-that separating one from the other is like segregating North Irish from South Irish. Nor does it make sense as a way of cutting down on sexual activity: after all, not all students are straight!

Part of learning is growing to have a mature and compassionate worldview, one which allows you to socialize in healthy and morally-beneficial ways. Single-sex schools castrate this part of the education process, reinforcing harsh gender norms, and ultimately, sexist and misogynist practices.

It's sickening to me that anyone would even consider the idea.

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Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Do children learn better in single-sex schools?

No

1 of 22
by Lisa Kooper

I do not believe that the gender of students has any bearing on the learning process. Students will learn at their o...read more
2 of 22
by Marie Gerber

Do children learn better in single-sex schools? If we're talking about facts and figures, I will admit, I can't give ...read more

Yes

1 of 35
by Gool Bugwadia-Parenting Styles Steward

The primary goal of education' is that all children, irrespective of their gender, must succeed. We as parents and ed...read more
2 of 35
by Chris Jamieson

The facts and figures of the issue are well dealt with in other articles, so I will not labour on them here. Instead ...read more