If one had to choose between a single gendered school and one that accommodates both sexes, what considerations would they make before making their choice? Parents and guardians possess different views concerning these two types of schools. In addition, most parents and guardians argue on their basis of their child or children’s welfare in any particular school. However, it occurs fundamental that these considerations occur since certain cases may not fit in one type of school or the other. Gender considerations in schools may not occur as a basic issue to some people. Moreover, both parents and students possess their own views about this issue. Taking a student to a single gender school may hinder them from gaining exposure to certain life influencing encounters. For instance, after the stipulated time in high school finishes, and the individual is required to mingle with the outside world, interrelating with the opposite sex may prove difficult. This occurs since such an individual possessed no chance of learning the ways of life of the opposite sex. Furthermore, mixed school settings also possess their own demerits. These include the development of uncouth behavior among the students. Students may indulge in sexual immorality since they get the opportunity at their disposal. In contrast, learning in mixed schools allows the student to mingle and learn the behavioral characteristics of the opposite sex. Eventually, this allows the student to deal with their counterparts appropriately once they complete their learning process. In the recent past, several high schools encountered massive strikes by student who demanded for single gender in the school (Salomone 76).
This situation occurred in my high school days when a neighboring mixed high school participated in a vicious strike. The main perpetrators of that strike included the boy students of the particular institution. They demanded that the girls face expulsion so that the school may change from a mixed to single gender. In the process of the strike, massive destruction occurred. School facilities were tampered with and several girls as well as the school principal encountered severe cases of sexual assault from these boys. Several hostels and offices got burnt down. The boys wanted the school to appear like other boy schools. They thought that this would give them a sense of superiority and independence. The strike that occurred in Brains worth High School not only affected the school. Other neighboring learning institutions faced the impacts too. This even agitated other students in other mixed schools to attempt the same act. However, the boys faced expulsions immediately and parents had to pay for all the losses. In addition, the school remained as a mixed school (Diop 45).
In my opinion, high schools should be single gendered. This proves fundamental since most negative cases get avoided. Research also has it that most highly performing high schools include the single gender ones. However, there still exist individual who prefer the mixed setting in high schools. Different from most same sex schools, the majority of mixed schools occur as day schools. Due to this, students appear in the company of their parents and guardians after school hours. Most parents term this as a good opportunity to monitor their children closely. Furthermore, in such instances, the students avail themselves to help their parents in performing different duties in the home. Moreover, the school fees in these mixed schools appear much lower and affordable to most people. Most parents look at the affordability of a school before taking their children to them.
One of the main reasons why single gender schools appear as the option includes, most university and college graduates arising from such high schools portray high academic orientation. This occurs since such graduates encountered less destruction while pursuing their high school certificate education. Examples of such destructions include persuasions to indulge in premature sex activities among others. Specifically, single gender high schools suit the girls mostly that the boys.
Another reason why these schools appear most appropriate includes the fact that they mostly get ranked as best performing in most countries. This occurs since the students gain opportunity to practice personal studies without disturbances from home. This owes to the fact that most single gender schools are boarding schools. Therefore, extra time occurs for the students to carry out their own private studies.
Finally, the single gender schools give parents a feeling that their children are in secure hands since they experience less or no stress at all from the boys. Boys tend to portray roughness towards the girls that may lead to some of the girls leaving in fear within the school. In addition, others may vicar from one school to another leading to a subsequent drop in their academic performance.
In conclusion, most parents should consider taking their students to single gender schools. This leads to better performance among the students. Furthermore, the parents must not only look at the affordability but also the quality of education of a particular school.
Works Cited
Diop, Mateen. Single-Gender Schools and the Inner-City; Can They Work? Menteen Diop,
2009.Print.
Salomone, Rosemary C. Same, Different, Equal: Rethinking Single-Sex Schooling. Yale
