Freedom To Be Themselves
Boys thrive in a single sex academic setting for many reasons. With no girls to 'impress', boys can get on with being themselves. Conformity gives way to individuality. They feel free to explore subjects like languages and the arts without fear of ridicule. Sexual stereotypes fade into the background. Macho posturing yields to sensitive dialogue.
Boys and Girls Are NOT the Same
When I attended Westmount High School back in the 1950's, single sex classes were the order of the day. Well, for most of the day. Our home rooms were segregated. Certain classes were not. We were joined by the girls for certain subjects with low enrollments like trigonometry. Orchestra and band were integrated classes; phys ed was not. I had many friends who attended boys' or girls' schools. Looking back I wonder what all the fuss is about. Why? Because it seems pretty obvious to me that boys and girls are quite different people. Educating boys and girls in single sex settings is not an assault on equal rights. It is an opportunity which ultimately will enhance equality by allowing boys and girls to develop their own unique characters.
For example, take boys and the arts. America has traditionally been a sports dominated society. Boys are taught to be jocks from birth. Sports equate with manliness. In addition, American sports teaches boys that you must win at all costs. Boys learn that message, then go on to apply it in their adult lives, many times with disastrous results.
The divide between jocks and geeks grows as children reach adolescence. A boy who wants to play the violin or be a painter runs counter to what society expects him to be doing. And I certainly can remember being called a 'sissy' because I was a serious musician from childhood. Being artistic was considered unmanly. Then and now. If you are not a jock, you are a geek. In American coed schools jocks and geeks don't mix. You are labeled as one or the other.
Different Learning Styles
A single sex school allows boys to explore art, drama and music without fear of being a freak in front of his feminine peers. A boys' school develops a boy's uniqueness and his individuality. Teachers in a boys' school can teach effectively in ways which reach boys and appeal to their learning style.
Visit a boys' school. Talk to graduates and current students. Find out more about the advantages of attending a boys' school. It's a terrific choice for many young men.
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