All Girls ---All Boys Schools

[Anonymous]

What are the thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I know quite a few families who are big supporters for middle school and some co-ed schools are separating kids by gender for Math and Science classes in grades 6-8.

You might look on the Private school forum for threads on Holton/NCS/Holy Child/Stone Ridge or Landon/Gonzaga/Heights and others. Those threads will definitely give you a better feel for the schools.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher who has taught at all-boys, all-girls and combinations of both.
There is a distinct advantage in my mind for girls in all-girls' schools and the same for boys in all boys.

Most recent experience as school head in all girls convinced me girls in both middle and upper school get the most out of their education when they are without boys in the same school. Fine for the campus to have both schools and some classes together at the upper level where such a combination has some added value as, for instance, the possibility of a class coming into being that would otherwise not be feasible--some advanced classes where numbers are too small to go it alone.

In my experience, a really good school for all girls is a great experience. The camaraderie is fantastic, the opportunities for leadership, sports, high and free spirit, girls being pals with one another rather than competitors for male attention, lifetime friendships, seldom find left-out girls as girls in this situation if schools have good faculties care for one another in ways not evident in combo schools.

I myself can tell if a woman has had the all-girl school experience. They are different types of women --much more open and accepting of other women, less apt, much less apt to be the self-absorbed brittle social xray types --more apt to be the open-hearted, smart women with real soul

Really, same is true for the boys.

In my thoughts huge mistakes were made in the push to go co-ed, just huge. The idea that co-ed prepares them for the world outside is nonsense. They are in the world outside more than enough. Let them have the delightful respite of school where they can study, play,interact, form friends for life in peace. Too much adult micro-managing of schools has almost ruined some of them.

Going back to the classical curriculum and the separation of the sexes in middle and upper schools would be a wonderful way of addressing a lot of the problems plaguing young people today!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher who has taught at all-boys, all-girls and combinations of both.
There is a distinct advantage in my mind for girls in all-girls' schools and the same for boys in all boys.

Most recent experience as school head in all girls convinced me girls in both middle and upper school get the most out of their education when they are without boys in the same school. Fine for the campus to have both schools and some classes together at the upper level where such a combination has some added value as, for instance, the possibility of a class coming into being that would otherwise not be feasible--some advanced classes where numbers are too small to go it alone.

In my experience, a really good school for all girls is a great experience. The camaraderie is fantastic, the opportunities for leadership, sports, high and free spirit, girls being pals with one another rather than competitors for male attention, lifetime friendships, seldom find left-out girls as girls in this situation if schools have good faculties care for one another in ways not evident in combo schools.

I myself can tell if a woman has had the all-girl school experience. They are different types of women --much more open and accepting of other women, less apt, much less apt to be the self-absorbed brittle social xray types --more apt to be the open-hearted, smart women with real soul

Really, same is true for the boys.

In my thoughts huge mistakes were made in the push to go co-ed, just huge. The idea that co-ed prepares them for the world outside is nonsense. They are in the world outside more than enough. Let them have the delightful respite of school where they can study, play,interact, form friends for life in peace. Too much adult micro-managing of schools has almost ruined some of them.

Going back to the classical curriculum and the separation of the sexes in middle and upper schools would be a wonderful way of addressing a lot of the problems plaguing young people today!

Do you know where your children are? Total separation? The teen private school social set has extremely "self-absorbed brittle social xray types" from girls single sex schools.

[Anonymous]

Still stand by my assessment of the superiority of the all girl and all boy school.

That said, the comment in my initial post on both faculty and parents is an important one ---a quality faculty and parents who buy into the ethos of a good school. The lack of either nullifies the potential of any school regardless of the composition of a school.

Given the good faculty (and curriculum) and partnering parents, the single sex school is by and large the best environment for early and late adolescents.

At one time girls in a coed school always got shafted whether it was the leadership roles , the gym, the sports fields to say nothing of classes where the learning style is substantively different. Some of the unfairness has now with Title 9 been addressed.

The film A League of Their Own encapsulates the ethos that sets the All-Girl School aside from all others. Young women supporting young women on fair terms --high spirits, high jinks and all --girls getting a chance to mix it up and be themselves. We need a lot more of this.

The openness, acceptance, freedom-to-be-me that encourages girls to mature more freely without considerations of looks,weight etc. just does not exist the same way in co-ed settings.

( admittedly, the NYCPrep reality show belies a lot of this, but that is narcissism and over-indulgence spilling over from the home --no school can cure that)

[Anonymous]

I went to an all-girls' school and loved it. I think it was a major factor in helping me to grow confident and assertive and I made great friends there. My son goes to an all boys' school, but he only started in middle school. It's been great for him, as he is very self-conscious and I don't think would participate as much if there were girls there. Plus, he loves sports. My other son is probably more suited to a co-ed school. So, I think it depends on large part on the child.

[Anonymous]

A good friend of mine went to an all girls school and both her and the women she is friends with really do seem to embody a quiet confidence and openness.

Not that you can't have this in co-ed school, but I think there is something to the single sex concept that encourages this.

[Anonymous]

"I myself can tell if a woman has had the all-girl school experience. They are different types of women --much more open and accepting of other women, less apt, much less apt to be the self-absorbed brittle social xray types --more apt to be the open-hearted, smart women with real soul "

As a grad of one the top girls schools in the area, I find this very amusing. You are drinking the kool aid and singing right from the admission marketing materials. There are plenty of self-absorbed brittle social xray types in all girls schools. Trust me the vast majority of parents are choosing all girls schools either because they like the school or in the case of boarding school worried about sex.

[Anonymous]

I love my son's all boys school. He's an active boy who is messy and clueless and doesn't look where he's walking and laughs at every word that could be construed as sexual. He starts fidgeting if he hasn't exercised at least an hour a day. He loves being in a caring place that understands how boys are. They are not like girls, which doesn't make them better or worse, just very very different. When my son went to a coed elementary school, he had one teacher who basically liked all the girls and non sporty boys, and really was cruel to the boys who were distractable and jumpy and giggly. She made me feel like my son was ADHD, when really he was just a boy. In a class with boys, my son is a model student.

I really didn't have an opinion of single sex education when he first started in his all boys school, but now I can say it's a great decision for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I myself can tell if a woman has had the all-girl school experience. They are different types of women --much more open and accepting of other women, less apt, much less apt to be the self-absorbed brittle social xray types --more apt to be the open-hearted, smart women with real soul "

As a grad of one the top girls schools in the area, I find this very amusing. You are drinking the kool aid and singing right from the admission marketing materials. There are plenty of self-absorbed brittle social xray types in all girls schools. Trust me the vast majority of parents are choosing all girls schools either because they like the school or in the case of boarding school worried about sex.

Currently one girls school is producing maximum social x rays. From party to party and event to event with maximum posting and exposure on facebook. Never a down moment or even real boyfriends. Big social events and serial hook-ups. So teacher, don't give me the party line since I have heard it from the boys.