Do students learn best when given the chance to interact with the opposite gender?
The jury’s still out on whether co-education is beneficial to learning, but it is possible to be different yet equal
These days it seems like students do not enjoy sitting with classmates of the opposite sex. This could be down to several reasons. Girls, for example, might think boys are loud, naughty, and immature. Boys, on the other hand, may consider girls to be too bossy.
However, sitting and working with people of the opposite sex is very beneficial.
It’s true that boys and girls are very different and their ideas may not be the same, but if they learn to communicate and exchange ideas, they can learn a lot from each other.
For example, girls generally have a higher level of maturity and concentration, so they can help their male classmates settle down and focus on their work.
On the other hand, boys can serve as role models for girls during hands-on practical activities because they tend to have a more aggressive approach to challenges set by the teacher. This can inspire girls to overcome more challenges in their daily life.
Overall, I think getting to sit with the opposite sex in class has a positive effect on today’s society, and can provide a more harmonious school life for people everywhere.
Gigi Wong Sze-tsit, Pope Paul VI College
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From the Editor
Thank you for your letter, Gigi. In the past, there used to be many schools which were only for one sex. And the debate still rages today as to whether this is better than having someone of an opposite sex in the classroom.
Some students find it very distracting, spending ages every morning making sure their hair is perfect. In overseas schools, students might wear make-up and their own clothes so school becomes more about who’s wearing what, than actual studying.
There are many surveys that show that boys and girls have different learning needs. Girls are more able to focus, to sit still and be quiet, while boys might need to move around and be more physical. This leads to a difference in classroom design and slight differences in the way things are taught.
All of this does not fit into the idea that girls and boys are equal. We think it is possible to be of equal value and yet different.
Let’s hear what other readers have to say on this matter.
Susan, Editor