Education coed vs. single gender, and then some!

Hodgepodge · #21 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Politicon

As a current high school student (as I’m sure you could probably tell from all my other posts) I would be furious if schools became segregated by genders. As pointed out, I don’t think that many people understand the social learning that goes on in schools. For example, when it comes to group projects it can be very helpful to have the other genders viewpoint. Also, imagine the problems that could pop up in the workplace if one had been segregated during the school years. Would one really know how to work cooperatively with the opposite gender? I also saw where one person said that on average girls dumb themselves down to the level of men. I don’t have any studies, but I find that to be a bunch of crap. Looking at my own experiences, I know some incredible smart guys along with some very intelligent women. If someone is dumbing themselves down to the level of others, what does that say about themselves? That they don’t value the intelligence they have been given? Either way, in my opinion segregating by gender would present many social problems that would care over to the workforce. If nothing else, it would be somewhat challenging to work with the opposite gender if one has never been exposed to it.

It sounds like you are a smart, level headed person. Keep it up!

The links in the post before yours have been borne out many times. Girls do seem to be better students consistently through out school. Are girls smarter than boys? I do not know. But they do better in school. And some girls do "dumb down" (unfortunately) in school on purpose. I suppose it is because otherise, they would intimidate the boys. And in case you are wondering, I am male.

oceanbreeze · #22 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 10:16 AM

Politicon: I do agree that females are finally starting to put their education ahead of the "dating game or fashion show". I also agree that we need to work together early in life, to be able to work together in the workforce. Fortunately, we are teaching our 8 and 11 year old daughters that education is more important than the fashion show or dating. Also, my husband is in his profession where the men vs. women ration is almost equal. So, while I do agree, many girls are still left behind due to old stereo types.

http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d05/lt2.asp#12

mpd8488 · #23 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 02:59 PM

There are three main things that kids in school concentrate on other than their studies to distract them: alcohol, the opposite sex, and sports.

If you take away the opposite sex, the other distractions will still be there.

This is just my opinion, but if you don't want your child to have a coed education that is up to you, but if you ask many people later in life you will find that they resented attended single sex schools because once they got to college the social scene was overwhelming.

Spitty · #24 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 03:22 PM

How will segregating the sexes prepare our youth for the workforce? Or a college campus? The sexes must learn to co-exsist and segregation would only prevent that. We would be giving rise to social misfits. Before you start blaming educators, look at the parents first. Often teachers are mopping up the mess that parents make with thier children.