Essay – Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school?
Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school? Essay: The contemporary school system that we experience today was originally formalized by Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1830 in British India. The school system established in Babington followed segregated education for boys and girls in tune with the Missionary and School systems of Europe. While single-sex schools were prevalent throughout the world including western countries like England and France till the 19th Century, most schools, colleges and universities opted for the co-educational systems at the turn of the Century. The Lawrence School or Sanawar school established by Sir Henry Lawrence and his wife Honoria Lawrence in 1847 was India’s first-ever co-educational school
Discussion
The single-sex school system was prevalent in India till the Srimati Hans Mehta Committee on Education recommended the adoption of co-education as the pattern of school systems.
However, the conservative thought behind the single-sex education system had its own merit and demerits. According to educationist Sandeep Dutt, 65% of Indian schools are single-sex.
Single-sex schools for girls and boys provide an environment facilitating them to express themselves freely. In Indian society, boys and girls are treated differently irrespective of the fact that they have equal rights. The social pressures of adjusting according to the opposite sex is absent. Girls and boys can express themselves more easily without apprehending the judgements from the opposite sex. For instance, girls will be able to talk more freely about their health problems in schools than in a co-educational school.
On the contrary, single-sex schools provide a more protective environment for girls and boys. Students are not required to leave their comfort zones and compete with the opposite sex for instance girls and boys do not need to adjust their attitudes and behaviours towards the opposite sex. Single-sex schools do not provide a realistic reflection of a society where men and women are not treated according to the specific strengths and weaknesses of a particular sex. For instance, men in general are of a stronger physical build than women. Boys learn spatial, visual and temporal skills faster than girls on the other hand girls learn communication and language skills faster than boys. For example, boys understand the inner workings of a machine better than girls while girls understand the manner of communication better than boys. Single-sex schools cater to the individual needs of both girls and boys and promote their individual strengths.
In society, girls and boys are required to adjust according to the situation irrespective of whether the situation suits their strengths. Single-sex schools are inept to provide such scenarios.
Single-sex schools create an environment that leads to the learning of stereotypes such in boys’ schools the stereotype that men are stronger and smarter than women may be fostered whereas in girls’ schools the notion that men are brutal and apathetic might create hindrances for both girls and boys in society. While single-sex schools are ideal for promoting individual strengths it hinders boys and girls to gain a broader perspective about each sex.
Conclusion
To conclude, single-sex schools are beneficial to a certain extent in building and gaining confidence, in fostering the natural skills of boys and girls. However, it is inept in providing a completely realistic reflection of society, where boys and girls will be treated equally without considering their individual strengths and weaknesses. Single-sex schools are incapable of imparting skills required for inter-dependence between men and women.
FAQs
Q1. Who formalized school education in India?
Ans: The contemporary school system that we experience today was originally formalized by Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1830 in British India.
Q2. Which committee promoted co-educational schools in India?
Ans: Srimati Hans Mehta Committee on Education recommended the adoption of co-education as the pattern of school systems.
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