Home > Academics & Activities > Academics & Activities Community
Single-sex education
JeanneMS May 28, 2008
Our daughter will be starting in an independant girls only school in the fall. Has anyone had any experience with single-sex classes? About 90% of what we've read is very pro girls only/boys only class rooms, if they are done right. I'll looking for input from a parent who's been there.
bisha1 May 28, 2008
I personally have not had much experience with single-sex classes, but from fellow classmates of mine have told me that it's a great way to keep away from being distracted. And when I say this I mean, that girls and boys won't have that burden of trying to be cool in front of one another. If your daughter likes to learn, than single-sex classes will be a new and fun experience for her. Hope this helped.41326
alcerroa June 13, 2008
My daughter attends a girls only school and has been there for 3 years. I feel that the single gender environment has given her a level of confidence and informed interest in math and science that she may not have had otherwise.
Also, I have noticed outside of school that she asks intelligent questions if we go to a museum or presentation. In March she took her certificate of merit exam for piano. The feedback I got from the judges was that they were impressed by her courage to ask good questions for clarification. There is a great deal of research supporting the fact that girls who attend an all girls school raise their hand and ask questions and volunteer more readily for leadership roles. You may want to go to the national coalition for girls schools to find out more information on single gender education. The researchers there are quite helpful and responsive. http://www.ncgs.org/
The school my daughter goes to is k-8. I will most likely have her go to a girls high school as well. Many of the catholic high schools are worth looking into.
As a parent I do feel it is important if the girl is pre-middle school that she cultivate friendships and time with boys outside of school. My daughter loves sports so she took karate and played basketball on a coed league where she was one of three girls on the team. I felt this time with boys was also helpful for her social development.
Good luck in your daughter's new school!
41327
JeanneMS June 13, 2008
We had done quite a bit of research and had already visited the web site you listed. Thanks for the input on coed extra curricular. That is definite something we will look at as Kate gets older. right now she is only four years old and will be starting Kindergarten a year early.41328
kpaWARRIOR July 28, 2008
Dear JeanneMS,
I am not a parent and have not had any experience involving single-sex schools. I attend a very small private Christian school. What is your daughter's age? I do know that most all girl schools in my area have many programs that rank much higher when compared to the average school....who knows why! With older girls, for social purposes (not for boyfriends, certainly), if there is a nice private school close by, I would say "go there instead". I hope I didn't waste your time! - thanks, kingdomwarrior41329
donnalynn October 24, 2008
Jeanne, this is a hard topic for me, but i think it would be good to seperate the boys from girls. I think that because of the concentration issues. I think there is more distraction with them in the same classes. But, however, i think they should have some classes together to learn how to interact with each other. If they dont learn how to interact with each other during their school years, when will they do it? I wish there would be class that teaches respect for the opposite sex. I dont think kidds learn enough respect for the opposite gender. It is important i think anyways. To me that needs to be taught at an early age, and all throughtout their school years. Not just one year of it. This is an interesting topic, thanks. Have a wonderful day, God Bless you.41330
serena_gray October 26, 2008
Jeanne,
Most of what I've read so far, people agree with what you've read so far, I'm here to offer the other side. The human species is made to interact with each other, you never see dogs putting their female puppies on one side of the room and their male puppies on the other do you? It is perfectly normal for children to be 'distracted' by the opposite (or more commonly now, same) sex, I do not agree when I hear people say it gives girls more confidence being around just girls. It's a parent's job to raise their children to feel good about themselves, to feel loved, and to believe they can do anything they put their mind to. Sure, a same-sex school may lead to more sleepovers, but it's not going to take away her desire for a boyfriend. Or in the case of my daughter, girlfriend. Regardless it's your job to do what you think is best for your individual child, and you know, you could ask HER what she'd like.. most kids of any age are thrilled to throw their opinion into the mix.
-S. Gray.41331
donnalynn October 27, 2008
Jeanne, that's good and true. My 16 and 11 year old would not like being seperated in their classrooms. They say it would be boring. They both have friends of the opposite sex and enjoy talking to them. They have to learn how to interact with each other,and communicate, or how will they learn. Im not against all girl schools, or all boy schools, but in my oppinion, how would they learn to communicate with the opposite sex. I know that they can get together after school functions, and partys, but still, i think they need more...just thinking...they can learn what boys are like...what girls are like...the differences between the two....although i believe we need a class to explain the differences more....class that teaches respect for one another...a class that teaches about loving one another....vs...hatred against others....im not sure if im making any sense here...but a very good topic. thanks a bunch and god bless...have a wonderful day!41332
Alexis6 June 5, 2009
Hello, I am a year late responding, but I agree with the above reply from alcerroa June 2008. We are so excited that our daughter will be attending an all girl Catholic School for 1st grade. I have done the research also, and the girls do raise their hands more in class, score higher on test scores, and sign up for classes that are usually dominated by boys. They are very confident and go on into society being able to socialize with anyone regardless of their gender. In my area, Houston, Tx., the students in single sex schools usually start out very young (PK/K) or high school (9-12) in single-sex schools. We are happy with our decision. And our daughter is so excited about attending her new school.41333
Search Community
More in Academics & Activities
- Activities for Pre-Readers and Beginning Readers
- Fourth and fifth grade: Tips and activities
- Third grade learning games and activities
- Kindergarten learning games and activities
- First grade learning games and activities
- Hands-on science activities
- Active gaming tips
- Five key skills for academic success
- Beating the winter blahs with fun activities
- Second grade learning games and activities
