A.J. Liu
Ms. Brigger
English 2 Pre-AP-6
6 November 2013
Pro Gender Specific Public Schools According to a UCLA report, graduates of single sex high schools demonstrate stronger academic orientations than their coeducational counterparts based on higher levels of academic engagement, SAT scores, and confidence in mathematical ability and computer skills. In order to pursue a more successful future, students should be enrolled in a gender specific school. Single sex high schools support students when their bodies go through significant changes. Students are more comfortable when they are in classes with the same sex and are able to explore subjects that would not normally be pursued by a specific gender. Although many parents believe co-ed schools expose kids to the real world, more schools should consider becoming gender specific because it aids students during the puberty stage of their lives, increases confidence in students, and exposes them to more subjects. During grades six through twelve, students’ bodies go through puberty; some earlier and quicker than others, but the question of, “Can the opposite sex be a distraction?” comes to mind. During this stage students start to take interest in the opposite sex. They could develop a “crush” and become attached to the other sex. The student soon becomes distracted by this certain person and chooses to ignore teachers and schoolwork resulting in low grades. In order to grab this person’s attention, a student could exhibit odd behavior such as preening or showing off in the classroom in an attempt to impress their crush. By having gender specific schools, the acting out and odd social behavior of students in class may be reduced. As a result, other classmates will have a better learning environment with fewer distractions. Later on during high school, dating becomes inevitable. According to “Adolescent Dating: What makes a good relationship?” written by Carl Pickhardt in 2009, students begin, “Significant dating in late adolescence ages 15-18, during the high school years,” (Pickhardt.) He then explains that “significant” means when young people want to experience a lasting relationship that involves more interest and caring than the casual socializing or friendship they have known before. However students can be so occupied by his/her partner that they do not see the handwriting on the wall and begin to let their grades slip. Based on an online newspaper article entitled “Dating in middle school leads to bad things, UGA study finds” posted by The Augusta Chronicle in 2013, students should not date because “Students who date in middle school have significantly worse study skills, are four times more likely to drop out of school and report twice as much alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use than their single classmates, according to new research from the University of Georgia,” (“Augusta Chronicle”.) What kind of parent would want a high school dropout kid who is addicted to drugs? Supposedly students date in school in order to have a higher social status, or become more popular. Dating could possibly start a negative chain reaction. Dating leads to kissing, kissing leads to touching, touching leads to sex, and sex could turn into teenage pregnancy. Imagine a girl, or even your daughter, trying to raise a child while still in high school. In addition, she would need a job in order to support her baby. By having gender specific schools, the amount of people who are dating can be reduced resulting in fewer teenage pregnancies and less high school dropouts. When students are going through puberty, they need a certain level of privacy because they are still learning new things about their bodies and can become self-conscious of their physical qualities. Boys feel less pressure as they mature and develop physically if they are surrounded by other boys because they know their classmates are experiencing the same things. According to “Developmental Differences in Boys
