On Wed, 9 Feb 2000, Rik Hemsley wrote:
> #if srl
> > [me]
> > > I really can't bring myself to say that single sex schools are a
> > > Good Thing, despite the obvious academic advantages.
> > >
> > > I agree with Sunnan. The costs of segregation are too high.
> >
> > As a graduate of a single-sex institution, i might agree with you; but
> > what do you think the costs are? I want to hear your ideas before I post
> > mine.
>
> There are many problems which people repeat again and again, such
> as mistrust / misunderstanding / fear of the opposite sex, missing
> out on important interaction and being unable to interact when released
> into the real world.
>
> The truth is that while many of these sorts of reasons may be true
> in some cases, it's actually quite usual for kids who attend single-sex
> schools to have contact with the opposite sex outside of school hours.
are we talking primary/secondary schools here, or colleges? I think they
may be different cases.
> So the reason I say 'costs' is that the above may apply in certain
> cases, so that adds to the tally, but there is only one certainty
> and that is that I find it reprehensible to segregate any parts of
> a community on whatever criteria, especially those who have no choice
> in the matter.
>
> Children don't have a say in being segregated because they are subject
> to the will of their parents. I was brought up in a liberal household
> where my parents attempted, against their traditional instincts, to
> allow me freedom of choice. For example, though my family are
> theoretically Christian and it would have been normal for me to be
> baptised at an early age, my parents instead decided that such
> decisions should be made _by_ me, not _for_ me.
But what if the decision to segregate you does you more good in the end?
for example, if your parents decide when you're 6 that the public schools
in your area suck and that they want to send you to a private school?
At the college level, most American students do get the choice as to
whether they attend a single-sex institution or not. and in general,
females seem to do better academically and professionally--- particularly
in the sciences--- when they attend single-sex colleges.
For example, there aren't many women Physics PhDs. But 1 out of every 9
female Physics PhDs hold an undergrad degree from Bryn Mawr.
srl
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