A Discussion of Whether Co-ed Schools Are Better than Single Sex Schools

Introduction

This paper gives an argumentative discussion on the topic of whether or not co-ed schools are better than single sex schools. In the paper, I have argued that co-ed schools are better than single sex schools; the argument takes into account the counterarguments offered by the people opposed to co-ed schools.

The debate on whether or not co-ed schools are better than single sex schools hinges on the question of which of the two types of schools offers a more conducive environment for study and holistic growth for the students. Both of the two forms of schools have advantages and disadvantages. A critical comparison of the two school models, however, shows that co-ed schools are by far better than single sex schools. The following are the main reasons why co-ed schools are better than single sex schools.

Benefits of mixed schools vs single schools

Firstly, mixed-sex schools provide a perfect environment for healthy competition between boys and girls in schools (Sparks, S.D, 15). Thomson also supports this view by arguing that human beings are naturally inclined to compete with the members of the opposite sex (Thomson, n.p.). For this reason, therefore, in co-ed schools, boys will do all their best to perform better than girls, and girls will also try very hard to outshine the boys in their academic performance. This fact, therefore, shows that co-ed schools provide an opportunity for healthy completion between boys and girls in school.

In opposition to this view, the critiques of co-ed education contend that, although boys and girls in co-ed schools may naturally feel inclined to compete against each other, the co-ed school environment, however, is not conducive for study because boys feel distracted by girls, and girls also feel distracted by boys; for this reason, boys and girls in co-ed schools concentrate less in their academic work than they do in single sex schools. A critical view of this position, however, shows that although indeed there are some distractions in co-ed schools brought about by the presence of members of the opposite sex in co-ed schools, single sex school environment, however, is not conducive for the holistic growth of the students. This point will become clear when we look at the second major advantage of co-ed schools over single sex schools.

The second major advantage of co-ed school system is that the co-ed school system gives the students a conducive environment to grow socially in an holistic manner, i.e. to be able to integrate and to relate well with people of both sexes (Co-ed schools are better schools, n.p.). Given the fact that after school the students will work in co-ed atmospheres, co-ed schools actually give the students an opportunity to interact freely and in a healthy manner with the members of both sexes. This is very important considering that the main aim of education is to train people for life and education aims at making the students able to fit well in the society. This fact, is actually supported by studies in social sciences; social science research have shown that people who have gone through the mixed-sex system of education tend to integrate better in the society than the people who have undergone the single sex system of education(Researchers, n.p). Mixed-sex system of education, therefore, is very important for the healthy social development of the students.

For that reason, therefore, although boys and girls in co-ed schools may feel a bit distracted in their studies by the presence of the members of the opposite sex in school, overall, co-ed schools provide a more conducive environment for the holistic growth of the students. This fact, therefore, shows that the holistic growth advantage of co-ed schools far outweigh the disruptive disadvantage of co-ed schools.

The third major advantage of the co-ed education system is that it helps the students to develop self- esteem and self-confidence (Benefits of Co-education Environment, n.p). In mixed sex schools, girls and boys learn and interact together. This interaction gives the students an opportunity to develop self-esteem and self-confidence. Interacting with the people of opposite sex gives one a courage to interact before any group of people, i.e. whether women or men. This fact, again, is supported by studies in social sciences; a research in social sciences has shown that a person who learnt in a mixed-sex school or environment tends to have a stronger self-esteem than those who studied in single sex schools (Researchers, n.p.). This fact also shows that co-ed schools are indeed better than single schools.

In opposition to this view, the critiques of co-ed school system argue that, although, indeed co-ed school environment is conducive for the development of self-esteem and self-confidence, the co-ed school environment, however, provides an occasion for indiscipline among the students. For instance, the critiques of co-ed school system argue that, the students are tempted to date in school and to engage to pre-marital sex, ; this can lead to early pregnancies and, ultimately, dropping out of school by the female students who become pregnant. For this reason, therefore, the critiques of co-ed education argue that co-ed school environment poses a real danger for the academic life of the students. A critical view of this point shows that, although, indeed a co-ed school environment may provide an occasion for the students to misbehave in sexual matters, co-ed school environment, however, provides an ideal environment for the training of young people for their various future roles in a co-ed society. This point will become clear when we explain the fourth main advantage of co-ed school system.

The fourth advantage of co-ed system of education is that the co-ed system of education provides a more realistic way of training young people to take their different roles later in life (Benefits of Co-education, n.p). This is because co-ed school training helps to break the misconceptions of each sex about the other and provides an excellent opportunity for building a strong relationship between the two sexes later in life. What this means in essence is that since young people are trained in school to undertake their different roles later in life, it is imperative that they are trained together as boys and girls, because the roles that they will take later in life will involve the both sexes. Single sex schools, therefore, deny the young people the opportunity to learn how to deal with both sexes later in life. This lack of experience on how to deal with both men and women can pose a big challenge late in life for the young people. This fact shows that co-ed schools, therefore, are by far the best training places for the leaders of tomorrow.

For this reason, therefore, although the co-ed school environment may provide an occasion for the students to misbehave, the co-ed school system, however, prepares students better for the real life outside the school; it is better for the students to learn early in life how to relate with the people of opposite sex, than to learn it later when they are already working.

The fifth advantage of co-ed education system is that, in the co-ed chool system, life is really more balanced because of the mutual interest between the two genders (Researchers, n.p.). This is because both boys and girls find a lot of fun doing things together as opposed to doing things separately. This fact, therefore, means that there will be more synergy and more productivity in co-ed schools than in single sex schools because in mixed sex schools, the students will do their activities heartily, for instance their projects, drama and concerts. Students in co-ed schools, therefore, find their school experiences more fun and enjoyable as opposed to the rather drab experiences of the students in the same sex schools.

Conclusion

In conclusion, co-ed schools are better than single sex schools because, co-ed schools provide conducive environment for the holistic growth and development of the learners. Although, indeed, the co-ed system of education has some disadvantages in comparison with the single sex system of education, the advantages of co-ed education system, however, far outweigh the disadvantages. For that reason, co-ed school are better than single sex schools.

Works Cited

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