Social and Emotional Benefits of Single Sex Schooling

Research is beginning to show that there are more benefits than academic when it comes to single sex education, particularly for boys. Not only are boys in single sex classrooms more likely to have a positive attitude about school, they are more likely to pursue activities that are likely to be thought of as "feminine" in a coed setting, such as art, drama and music. Some studies suggest that boys in single sex schools also have a higher self-esteem and are more sensitive to others.

When you think about it, removing girls from the classroom creates an entirely different atmosphere. On the academic level, education can be directed toward a boys' style of learning. This helps him to not only learn but to love learning.

In a coed school, much of what goes on in the classroom is deciding who is cool and who is not. Boys tend to overdo their masculinity in order to prove their "coolness."

In single sex education, boys needn't spend time worrying about whether they are looking or acting cool. They are more likely to study because they are freed from anxiety about whether they will be perceived as a "geek" for studying hard and getting good grades. They can become fully involved in the classroom, and behaviorally more appropriate.

Without the fear of being labeled "gay," a boy can explore and excel in the arts and enhance his self-image. There is no gender reinforcement such as that found in coed schools.