English Argument Essay Example

that the school atmosphere is safer, there is more school pride and spirit, and children have higher self-esteem levels.

It offers students freedom from worrying about impressing the opposite sex, making it easier for the girls' and boys' focus on their studies. Audrey Lawson, founder of the Walter A. Lawson institute for Prosperity and Peace, an all charter middle school in Houston, Texas, says, Its been proven that, without interruption of the other sex, boys and girls do a better job of learning. " These classes offer a lot and defiantly improve test scores.

Stereotyping is big throughout all generations.

When Jill Rajas stared the Jefferson Leadership Academies, she wondered if schools would reinforce the stereotypes, "l thought the boys' classes would turn into frat parties and the girls' would be brushing each others hair. " But Rajas got a big surprise when they students entered the single-sex classes they broke out of their traditional roles. I can believe this is true because it all comes back to the main point.

Eliminating the distraction. Brain Development also plays a huge role in how students grow. Brain development for boys is completely different than girls.

For one, girls' brains develop faster than a boys' does meaning a girl matures faster than a boys does. This is a prime reason why they should be educated separately.

Having a single-sex class alleviates a lot of behavioral problems, especially with boys. Now, I don't think they should be kept separate in high school because middle school is the age where they need to start developing study habits and if they are able to develop these without he distraction of

the opposite sex then they shouldn't be bothered by it in high school.

You can take my school for example, We have all been together for seven years and we still get distracted by each other because we have never developed good study habits and none of us really participate in class and the boys like to try and be "cool" by smarting off to the teacher to impress the girls which only gets them in trouble. There is also the learning environment kids are put in. Girls usually have more of a sensitive sense of hearing than boys do. Leonard Sax, a Maryland Pediatrician, states, "A teacher speaking in a tone of voice comfortable for girls will make boys fall asleep.

He also states, "Boys don't work as well in smaller groups as girls do. They II jockey to be the head male. " We all have Our opinions on single-sex classes but how do you think the kids feel? According to the article, How teens view single-sex classes by Frances R Spillages, 6th grade students revealed through comments that the behavior of the opposite gender was a problem. They said their opposite gender peers were "noisy" and "annoying.

" (Spillages, 3) James, an 11 year old, states that he eves his all boys gym class because he can be on teams with his friends and feels more challenged.

He says, "l like my gym class because you get to play games using your skills. " He also mentions that he enjoyed the competition the all-boys class brought. "I want to try and beat them.

I didn't try to beat the girls (When I

was in mixed classes) because didn't think I could beat the top girls, so why bother? ' (Spillages, 3) This comment shows that boys can use their full competitive behavior and actually want to try and play the games and enhance their energy and physique. Based on the girl's comments from his article, it's more about comfort than it is about the competition.

They felt they had more freedom to express their opinion than they did around the boys. Alison, an 1 1 -year-old girl, says she loves being in an all-girls class because she can voice her opinion. She says that she's good at my and loves doing math and in an all-girls class she feels comfortable answering questions and participating in class.

She states, "You don't have to worry about boys making fun of you. " (Spieling, 3) Becky, 12, agrees with Liaison's statement about being intellectually safe. She says, "The boys always picked on me cause am smarter than they are.

In all-girls classes, the teachers word things better and say them differently. In mixed classes, they say things more simple for the boys. " Becky loves her all-girl classes because she feels like she accomplishes more.

This doesn't necessarily mean she is smarter than the boys but simply goes back to girls being more mature than boys are and their brains being more developed. (Spillages, 3). In the article, why we must try same-sex instruction, they do a test splitting boys and girls up to try and see how it will go.

The study used 33 girls for a girl's class, 33 boys for a boy's lass, and 33 boys and

girls for a co-educational class. The students were given a math/social studies class, one science and computer class, and an English/reading class.

The all rotated through these classes. After the school year was done, the science/computer teacher reported that in the all girl's class the kids were not afraid to ask questions, were determined to get the highest test scores, more motivated, and loved the challenge there same sex class brought (Lasted, 2).

The math/social studies teacher reported the co- educational kids did fairly normal but had some behavioral problems. They also said the all-boys group was more active than the all-girls class and the co- educational class combined.

In the same-sex classes the test scores improved. The math/social studies teacher recommended same-sex classes. Friendships play a big part in single-sex classes. Friendships are a big influence in a child's behavior and how they will focus in class. This all goes back to opposite sex distractions.

I think it is perfectly alright for kids to be friends with the opposite sex but when it comes to in class time think kids should be separated. Not in elective classes but in general education classes such as math, reading, English, social studies, and science. I think elective classes such as art and music should be co-educational because they are the time when kids can express themselves. Dander Boyd, a sixth grader, says, "Some of the boys would play with the girls on class.

Do not want nobody getting distracted or try to distract me" (Heron, 50).

And this proves yet another point on why middle school students should be separated. So many students have terrible studying habits.

High school students always make up excuses for not studying and I believe that this is because they never plopped the proper studying habits.

It is pretty clear from these students' opinions, and all the facts given, that single-sex classes do work. They eliminate the distractions of the opposite sex and allow students to focus strongly on their academic skills and improve their grades.

But what are negative effects of this class? Heather, a 13 year old, complained about being in an all-girls class because, "her mom decided to torture her. " Heather went along with her mom's request because she was curious. She ended up liking the class because it made it easier to relate to her friends.

She also mentions hat the girls helped each other with guy problems which clearly showed heather was becoming more interested in mix gender social paring.

She states," In some ways it is really nice to be with your friends, but sometimes the girls get catty, and it is hard to get space away from them. " (Spillages, 4). This same article has a paragraph that really proves the negative effects on single-sex classes.

"The 7th and 8th grade boys were less enthusiastic than the girls about single sex classes. Bullying seemed to become more of a problem with only boys present. Danny, 13, noted that he had been curious bout all-boy classes, but after two years in such classes, Danny planned to choose mixed-gender classes for 8th grade.

In the all-boys classes, Danny reported, he could talk about sports with his friends and "just hang out" but that "boys try to act tougher in the environment.

Eighth grader Jim, also 13, admitted that he had been picked on by other boys in the mixed classes in 7th grade, but that mistreatment worsened in the all-boys classes.

He explained, "the guys who pick on us would be more interested UN impressing girls" in a mix gender group. Jim added that he missed being with his female rinds" (Spillages, 4).

This is a great example of the negative effects that single-sex schools can have. What does this tell us? This shows that the information provided in this article and the comments and opinion of the kids proves that single-sex classes are beneficial and can contribute to a comfortable learning yet intellectually challenging middle school experience. Aside from the negative effects these classes and schools can have the overall experience is a positive one. I do hope that one day all middle schools are incorporate this idea and maybe our youth can finally bring up all test scores.