Whatever some parents may believe about the distractions of co-educational schools and the academic superiority of segregated schools, research has found that sending your kids to an all-girls or all-boys school doesn't necessarily mean that they will do better academically. In fact, according to an article published in Science Magazine, they might even grow up with a higher tendency to believe in gender stereotypes. In the report, psychologist Rebecca Bigler from the University of Texas, along with the American Council of CoEducational Schooling, argue that single-sex classroom supporters try to use neuroscience to prove the method is effective with no actual records of increased academic performance. One such study pointed out that boys responded better to "loud confrontation" while girls wanted a "gentle" approach, but according to Bigler and company, neuroscientists say that there aren't a lot of differences between kids' brains that are there because of their sex.
The researchers published the article in the hopes of warning both parents and educators about helping to perpetuate gender stereotypes. "Schools play a larger role in children’s lives beyond academic training—they prepare children for mixed-sex workplaces, families and citizenry,” Bigler explains. “Institutionalizing gender-segregated classrooms limits children’s opportunities to interact with members of the opposite sex and to develop the skills necessary for positive and cooperative interaction."
Regardless of whether your children attend a coed or single-sex school, however, how well they adjust to and perform in school depends on them--with a little encouragement from you. Try these articles for advice:
- Realistic Expectations: 4 Tips to Avoid Over-Pressuring Your Kids about Academics
- 5 Tips on Raising a Bright Girl Who Doesn’t Buckle under Pressure
- Cream of the Crop: 4 Qualities of Excellent Students
- 10 Tips for Helping Your Child Develop Good Study Habits
- New Study: Facebook Turns Kids and Teens into Worse Students
- 5 Tips to Help Your Kids Study for Finals
- 10 Ways to Get Involved in Your Child's Education
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(Photo by miss_millions courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons)
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