Mixed vs Single Gender Education

Pros and Cons of All-Boys/Girls Classrooms

In Canada, with some exceptions, all-boys and all-girls schools are privately funded and the cost leaves many Canadians without the option to choose single-gender schools. Well now that's changing, maybe...

In Oct 2009, Chris Spence of the Toronto District School Board called for 'boy friendly' classrooms to address a growing decline in male academics. The controversial request made headlines all over Canada.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty immediately came out in support of the proposal in hopes of raising test scores and cutting the dropout rates. McGuinty is quoted as saying, "... our boys are not doing as well as our girls when it comes to reading and behavioural challenges".

While some taxpayers might consider single sex schools to be a giant step backward in the long-running battle for 'equality of the sexes', they should also consider the model from an educator's perspective.

Teachers Comment on Same-Sex School Environments

In an article by Karen Elowitt entitled "All-boys Schools Still Relevant in 21st Century" Dec 8th 2009, she references Belmont Hill School MA Headmaster Dr. Richard Melvoin as saying, "Coed school environments are not always boy-friendly. There is often an emphasis on sitting still and solitary study."

In the same article, Richard Brennan says, "A boys school is a liberating environment. There are different ways to be a boy in a boys school. They can try on different roles, learn to be good leaders and teammates, to be resourceful and courageous, and develop humility and empathy."

Karen Robinet writes in Chatham This Week. "All-boys schools are not the solution" and her argument begins by acknowledging that there is a problem with male academics., but rather than accept the proposed single gender education approach, she advocates co-ed schools adopt special programs and hire more male teachers in the primary grades.

In contrast, Mike Paluch, Director of Academics at an all boys school in Ontario says, "As a teacher who has recently moved from a co-education environment to an all boys independent school, I am consistently struck by the validity of the single gender education classroom."

Paluch observed how his colleagues, who had been teaching all-boys for years, seamlessly engaged their students by incorporating role play, humour and a sense of competition in the classroom. He witnessed firsthand that with the right instructional approach, boys who may have languished in a co-ed environment, flourish in an all-boys setting.

Proposed Benefits of All-Boys Schools

Boys relax around their friends; they soften their competitive edge and become more collaborative in a single-sex setting. In an all-boys school they can more easily be themselves and not worry about what girls might think. In this environment they develop art skills and express themselves in painting and drama. They write poetry and play musical instruments.

Proposed Benefits of All-Girls Schools

Generally speaking, girls enrolled in single-gender education schools stop being shy and take more risks. They become more competitive. Female students embrace sports and math without worrying about appearing too masculine. All-girls schools produce higher quality athletes, especially in soccer, hockey and basketball.