Single sex vs. Co-ed public elementary and secondary schools

I was reading a few articles about some school districts making a move towards creating more single-sex schools. What are everyone's views on this? I am mostly undecided, as I can see good things for both sides. Overall, I think I lean more towards co-ed, because I think it's important for each sex to learn to co-exist, communicate, and cooperate with the other, even if it results in such trite teenager troubles such as trying to get a boy or girlfriend, being macho or pretty, fitting all those stereotypical high school angsty problems, etc. I may be biased because I went to co-ed schools throughout, so I don't know for sure. But I can see the merits to single sex schools. Anyways, enough from me. Discuss.

I agree. Not much there to argue against. :p

Single sex schools are jsut stupidity in my opinion. Often times adults seem to conveniently forget what it's like to be a kid or teenager, jsut so they can make stupid rules.

I think its important for the sexes to interact with each other, cuz if they dont then they wont know how when they are forced to one anothers company. Besides do we really need something that would make Americas children hornier, in the end???

Besides segregation always creates second class citizens. Always.


EDIT: In California I can define my own gender in the Public School system. So if this thing goes all the way through, i'll be wearing a skirt at an all girls school. AAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLRRRRRRRIIIIGGGGGGHHHHHTTTTT.

(*Note: Noone may quote me on that.*)

I hate it when those rich kids from All Boys schools get a day off from school and come to my school for a day to hang out with my girl. I want to HATE HIM. :mad2:

HEY MEAT! I WENT TO AN ALL BOYS HIGH SCHOOL! SORRY THEY ARE HITTING ON YOUR GIRLFRIEND, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! But yeah, I love single sex schooling. it was so chill and relaxing! My GF wrote a report on this...i could have her show you everything about this, like stats and everything. It proves that its better. BTW she went to an all girls school! :D :D :D :D :D Yes....the good ol days of high school...oh how i will miss them this year.

I go to an all boys school. And I've never had a second thought about it. Most people who do go to a single sex school wouldn't really care about their surroundings. As Neel said before, there are arguments in favour of both co-ed and single sex. I don't know any people that go to a single sex and would rather go to a co-ed or vice versa. In my experience, people are happy where they are.

Also, it's easier for someone to learn when surrounded with people you have no chance of being sexually attracted to (assuming this hypothetical student is heterosexual.) And that's why the top academic schools (in Australia at least) tend to be single sex and not co-ed, be they private, public or selective.

"By the way, what the hell's a girl?"

I've read a few other posts saying that single sex school students will end up not knowing how to communicate or act in front of the opposite sex. Gee...that's a bit off. There's hardly any disadvantage. Most of these students (myself included) have a life outside of school where they interact with the opposite sex, or if not, at least a family member of the opposite sex.

I agree with MO Mercy. Theres always plenty of chances to interact with the opposite sex. Hell I was in HS when I met my GF and we both went to same sex HS! I will try to get a copy of a report from her.

Single-sex schools? How... Unnatural.

Well, I'd imagine in single-sex schools you'd have less something-or-others trying to be cool to impress the opposite sex, which I assume would lead to an overall better environment.

But I've gone to a coed public school my entire life, so I think I'd find it kind of hard to change.

I like [strike]Boobs[/strike] girls to be in my school. They are great for stress relief and always cooler than the guys.

I've gone to both types of schools, and so has hubby. We're only two people, so take this as you will, but from what we've seen:

For boys, a single sex school means that they are less inclined to behave, because there are no girls around to call him a moron for sticking straws up his nose, belching, or lighting farts in the schoolyard. The same goes for girls, who tend to hike their skirts up and sit with their legs open when they're hot, but here's no real academic disadvantage to being more "relaxed". Unless you take it too far. And some do.

There are fewer fights in same sex schools, because there's no one to impress. People who are fans of unpopular activities, such as the Great Math And Science Club, tend to find more acceptance doing what they want, because, again, there's no one around that you need to impress. I met many more artistic personalities in the same sex school I went to than in the other ones. Mr. Anaralia, on the other hand, met more psychos.

The teachers in a same sex school are usually better paid, judging from the way they dress, so they tend to be better. But then again, that all depends.

I can see why people concerned about kids getting distracted with cutsey little boy-girl crap would think this is a good idea, but there are entirely too many reasons why it is not a good idea.

Personally, I'm a big fan of uniforms. I think requiring uniforms at more schools is far more practical, and it often carries over into the "real world," since a lot of jobs require uniforms. Heck, stricter dresscodes would even be fine. I think what kids are wearing is a far bigger distraction than the opposite sex.

I agree with Duckquack. Uniforms are a better way to establish equalizers than to separate the sexes... although I do get tired of, "Did you hear that Sue had sex with Greg last night?". Not having the opposite sex as a distraction would be nice... not having some guy wearing tight jeans that draw my attention would also be nice. Then again, I would still have attractions and be trying to impress people because an all-boys school has to have a lot of hotties...

Urgh, too many thoughts! I guess that, for a bisexual, same-sex schools are no less distracting that co-ed schools.

i prefer co-ed! maybe some bias cause ive been in co-ed schools all my life....my cousin told me (and that person was in single sex school) that single sex school build up the hype of interacting with the opposite sex! her opinion i dont know

i seriously dont think i regret going to a co-ed school (how could i anyway ive never been to a single sex school) mainly because i could interact with the opposite sex! besides its the best place to sarcastically, hurmously flirt!! lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ansem

Urgh, too many thoughts! I guess that, for a bisexual, same-sex schools are no less distracting that co-ed schools.

---

Yeah, and I must admit... if I were raised in girls-only schools I would probably, you know... swing that way. On occasion. More than I have already. ;)

Coed for me plz :D

I prefer Coed, because being stuck with thousands of bitchy teenage girls sounds like no fun. Plus, I quite like hanging out with guys in school. :D

If it wasn't for co-ed schools, I wouldn't have found a love interest...so yeah...go co-eds.

I don't agree that co-eds promote bad behavior because the guys always want to impress the girls. There's grafitti in the bathroom walls at my school. Did the kids who wrote it do it to impress girls...in a male bathroom?

If kids behave better at single sex private schools, then its because they're private, not because they're single sex.

75% of my school day is checkin out girls heh, i dont think i could live single sex schools.

Quote:

---

I don't agree that co-eds promote bad behavior because the guys always want to impress the girls.

---

Is this for me? (Gee, paranoid much?) What I said was that co-eds promote good behavior because nobody wants to be embarrassed in front of the opposite sex. There are fewer fights, though, but that's about it.

I think it's important for the sexes to learn to co-exist. If anything the co-ed schools do not create bad behaviour rather, they prevent it. I go to a Co-ed school myself, but the boy's school that is fairly close to where I live has the worst reputation for bullying, vandalisation, and general bad behaviour in the area. So the statistics would seem to suggest that single-sex schools are the worst idea ever and need to be abolished immediatly. As for my own views, I agree they're a stupid idea. Not least because it reduces any interaction with the oposite sex that I have meaning I would never have met my best friend Sophie. This is obviously bad. Personally I can't see any up-sides to single -sex schools.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Female Ryuichi

I prefer Coed, because being stuck with thousands of bitchy teenage girls sounds like no fun. Plus, I quite like hanging out with guys in school. :D

---

Same for me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Anaralia

Is this for me? (Gee, paranoid much?) What I said was that co-eds promote good behavior because nobody wants to be embarrassed in front of the opposite sex. There are fewer fights, though, but that's about it.

---

No, I meant it in general.

I think that we're backing into those times where girls used to study in a college for girls and boys for a college for boys.... it's totaly stupid what's the difference? We need to be always with the opposite sex. That suggestion is old!

I really don't see where either are bad.

I go to a single sex school (all girls) and I've turned out fine..get this, a guy looked at me the other day, I was all like 'OMG...hes like......male...'.
Nah, believe me, it has never been an obsticle with the whoel boy girl thing. There is plenty of oppertunity to meet and greet the males outside of school hours. And as for the whole 'Sue had sex with Greg' thing, it happens still.

Yeah it is more bitchy, but you stick a thousand menstural women into a building and you are bound to get bitching.

I think its a far more relaxed enviroment as no-one is trying to impress the opposite sex. In my area the single sex schools do better academically than the co-ed, which is good cos I can laugh at everyone else.

Chaos

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by devilmaykickass

I really don't see where either are bad.

---

So then what is the point of having single sex schools if they don't have an advantage over coed schools?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nik0tine

So then what is the point of having single sex schools if they don't have an advantage over coed schools?

---

Because, without the guys around the girls can fart and belch. Realy, I know these things.