Science journal: single sex education is not better.
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 10:50 am
Contrary to what the incoming chairman of the Society of Headmasters and Headmistresses of Independent Schools, David Boddy, says about single-sex education, thread here: http://www.ses-forums.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=786&start=0 single-sex education does not improve academic performance. It does, however, lead to an increase in gender stereotypical behaviour including more aggression and behavioural problems in boys and more gender-stereotyped girls (presumably more quiescent, which is the dominant stereotype).
No wonder the sexist SES like single sex education! It creates the conditions for what they seek to produce. However in other conditions, boys and girls turn out quite differently.
I'm aware that perhaps this should not be a new thread however after the first page of the other thread, the discussion got taken off-topic and I thought it important that this scientific study would be highlighted.
<edit> oops neglected link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8781907/Children-at-single-sex-schools-more-likely-to-be-sexist.html
No wonder the sexist SES like single sex education! It creates the conditions for what they seek to produce. However in other conditions, boys and girls turn out quite differently.
In a report published in the Science journal, researchers wrote: "Sex-segregated education is deeply misguided and often justified by weak, cherry-picked or misconstrued scientific claims rather than by valid scientific evidence.
"There is no well-designed research showing that single-sex education improves students' academic performance, but there is evidence that sex segregation increases gender stereotyping and legitimises institutional sexism."
Boys who spend more time in each other's company are more likely to become aggressive and develop behavioural problems, while isolating girls can lead them to accept gender stereotypes, they said.
I'm aware that perhaps this should not be a new thread however after the first page of the other thread, the discussion got taken off-topic and I thought it important that this scientific study would be highlighted.
<edit> oops neglected link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8781907/Children-at-single-sex-schools-more-likely-to-be-sexist.html