Considering Single Sex Education?

Oct 10th 2007

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by: kbradley8
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Considering Single Sex Education? 

            The current educational literature is replete with assertions of the benefits of single sex schooling.  Medical doctors, psychologists and educational theorists have come to the conclusion, based on brain research, anecdotal evidence, and limited educational research, that single sex schooling has the potential to offer an optimal educational environment for both sexes.  Among the proposed benefits are:  increased student achievement, improved self-esteem, a reduction in discipline referrals, an increase in student attendance, an increase in the diversity of selection of courses in high school and in college, and an increase in the diversity of selection of non-traditional gender specific career choices.

            Single sex education is not a new concept.  The first schools in this country were single sex educational environments.  Males and females were educated separately based on traditional gender specific career paths common to American society.  Males were usually educated privately and/or worked as apprentices in their future careers.  Females were educated at home, learning the skills necessary for life as a successful wife.  Eventually, schools became coed to keep up with the changing needs of society and, it was thought, that the female presence in the classroom might aid in calming the rowdy boys. 

            The emergence of secondary education developed as a result of the need for specialized professional training for males (doctors, lawyers, etc.).    In the United States, Harvard was established in 1636, William and Mary in1693, Yale College in 1716, and the College of New Jersey at Princeton in 1746.  Virginia Military Institute, the oldest military college in the United States was established in 1839, and the Citadel, the oldest South Carolina military college was established in 1842.  All of these institutions were all-male educational institutions and all highly regarded today, though they have not remained single sex environments.   

            Secondary education for females was unheard of until the early 1800s, but spread rapidly once the concept began. Wesleyan College in Georgia, the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women opened its doors in 1836.  Mary Sharp College (1853) in Tennessee and Elmira Female College (1855) in New York added to the developing list of all-female institutions of high learning. 

            Until recently single sex education has been an international, private or parochial educational endeavor.  Public school single sex education was, in effect, outlawed by the implementation of title IX in 1972.  This law made it illegal for individuals to be denied participation or benefits from any institution receiving federal financial assistance.   Hence, single sex schools were given the choice of closing their doors or admitting both sexes.

            In October 2006, President Bush signed legislation that made single sex education not only legal, but endorsed by the United States Department of Education as a potential strategy in increasing student achievement.  Since that time educational theorists, researchers and educators have been investigating the claims associated with single sex education.  Research from international, private and parochial arenas, research from medical experts on gender differences and anecdotal research has provided a knowledge base for the investigation.  However, research within a public sector in this country is necessary and is currently underway to substantiate the beneficial claims associated with single sex education. 

            Dr. Leonard Sax, author of several books on single sex schooling and the president of the National Association for Single Sex Public Education (www.singlesexeducation.org) is spearheading a drive toward the implementation of single sex schooling across the United States.    Dr. Sax, along with other prominent experts on the topic of single sex education has provided a substantial research knowledge base for the understanding of single sex schooling. 

            The state of South Carolina is leading the nation in the implementation of single sex schooling as a viable and effective teaching strategy to increase student achievement.  David Chadwell, the head of the South Carolina State Department of Education Single Sex Education implementation effort, has provided resources, professional development and school based guidance for educators and administrator involved in the implementation of single sex schooling.

            My research on single sex schooling is on going as I am working on my dissertation on single sex schooling and its impact on student achievement, attendance and discipline referrals.  However, my personal experience in single sex education lends support to the theory that single sex schooling can be more beneficial than coeducational schooling to some individuals.  I attended a single sex high school in Georgia just prior to the implementation of Title IX.  Also, I am a 5^th generation graduate of Wesleyan College, the first college established in this country to grant degrees to women. 

            I can think of no better environment for education than one in which individuals are not distracted by or concerned with the opposite sex, where individuals are encouraged to see no boundaries to what they can accomplish, and are valued equally by peers.  Consider all research available—including anecdotal research, read articles available online or in text, visit single sex classes and then decide.  Don’t simply dismiss single sex education as discriminatory or old-fashioned.  You won’t believe what you’re missing.

About the Author

Katherine Bradley, A. B.--Wesleyan College, M.ED--University of Georgia, ED.S--Lincoln Memorial University, currently working on a Ph.D. in educational leadership at Mercer University

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