“Where did you go to high school?”
The most famous question asked upon meeting someone in St. Louis. I have lived in Saint Louis most of my life, but I was originally born in Chicago. When my sister and I were in preschool, my family transferred from Chicago to St. Louis for my mom’s job. My mom and dad, maybe like some of you, were unfamiliar with St. Louis education.
St. Louis is unlike most other cities. St. Louis has 7 private Catholic all boys' schools: De Smet, Saint Louis University High School, St. Mary’s, Christian Brother’s College, Chaminade, Priory, and Vianney. In addition, St. Louis has 8 private Catholic all girls’ schools: Ursuline Academy, Notre Dame, Nerinx Hall, Incarnet Word Academy, Vila Deuschene, Visitation Academy, Cor Jesu Academy, and St. Josephs Academy.
This may come to a shock to some of you, and may seem a bit strange. Do not worry, my parents reacted the exact same way. Both my mom and dad had attended public schools, so the whole idea of a same-sex high school seemed very different as well. But with enough research about St. Louis education and same-sex high schools, my parents learned about what the same-sex high schools in St. Louis have to offer that the public high schools do not. Even though my parents were both strong supporters of public education, they were even more enthused with the idea of sending their children to a same-sex school. My parents decided, and my sister and I agreed, that we would go to a private all-girls school. We personally attended St. Joseph’s Academy, and we could not have been more pleased with our experience. My hope is that you make a decision that is best for your child – but seriously consider the life- impacting benefits of sending your child to a same-sex school.
First of all, males and females learn more efficiently at same-sex schools. While it is not a guarantee that students are more successful in a same-sex school, same-sex schools have the advantage of having only one gender in the classroom at a time, which creates opportunities that don’t exist in the coed classroom. Because there is only one gender in the classroom, teachers are able to use strategies in the all-girls classroom and in the all-boys classroom that don’t work as well, or even at all at co-ed schools.
For instance, teachers may spend more time on certain subjects specifically for one sex. According to University of Michigan, past studies have shown that, “traditionally boys are better at more logical and theoretical subjects such as mathematics and science…” However, this may be the case because females have not asserted themselves, or had the proper teaching opportunity. At a same-sex school, teachers are able to strategize their curriculum to focus more time on these subjects that may be more difficult for girls. In addition, females are relieved from many pressures of having males in the classroom, and therefore, more willing and able to participate in class discussions. This practice and experience is so important, as women are continuing to move up in society and needed to perform these tasks. An all-girls high school provides women with the confidence to be able to accomplish the same, if not more than what men are able to accomplish.
The most famous question asked upon meeting someone in St. Louis. I have lived in Saint Louis most of my life, but I was originally born in Chicago. When my sister and I were in preschool, my family transferred from Chicago to St. Louis for my mom’s job. My mom and dad, maybe like some of you, were unfamiliar with St. Louis education.
St. Louis is unlike most other cities. St. Louis has 7 private Catholic all boys' schools: De Smet, Saint Louis University High School, St. Mary’s, Christian Brother’s College, Chaminade, Priory, and Vianney. In addition, St. Louis has 8 private Catholic all girls’ schools: Ursuline Academy, Notre Dame, Nerinx Hall, Incarnet Word Academy, Vila Deuschene, Visitation Academy, Cor Jesu Academy, and St. Josephs Academy.
This may come to a shock to some of you, and may seem a bit strange. Do not worry, my parents reacted the exact same way. Both my mom and dad had attended public schools, so the whole idea of a same-sex high school seemed very different as well. But with enough research about St. Louis education and same-sex high schools, my parents learned about what the same-sex high schools in St. Louis have to offer that the public high schools do not. Even though my parents were both strong supporters of public education, they were even more enthused with the idea of sending their children to a same-sex school. My parents decided, and my sister and I agreed, that we would go to a private all-girls school. We personally attended St. Joseph’s Academy, and we could not have been more pleased with our experience. My hope is that you make a decision that is best for your child – but seriously consider the life- impacting benefits of sending your child to a same-sex school.
First of all, males and females learn more efficiently at same-sex schools. While it is not a guarantee that students are more successful in a same-sex school, same-sex schools have the advantage of having only one gender in the classroom at a time, which creates opportunities that don’t exist in the coed classroom. Because there is only one gender in the classroom, teachers are able to use strategies in the all-girls classroom and in the all-boys classroom that don’t work as well, or even at all at co-ed schools.
For instance, teachers may spend more time on certain subjects specifically for one sex. According to University of Michigan, past studies have shown that, “traditionally boys are better at more logical and theoretical subjects such as mathematics and science…” However, this may be the case because females have not asserted themselves, or had the proper teaching opportunity. At a same-sex school, teachers are able to strategize their curriculum to focus more time on these subjects that may be more difficult for girls. In addition, females are relieved from many pressures of having males in the classroom, and therefore, more willing and able to participate in class discussions. This practice and experience is so important, as women are continuing to move up in society and needed to perform these tasks. An all-girls high school provides women with the confidence to be able to accomplish the same, if not more than what men are able to accomplish.
Similarly, studies have shown that girls are traditionally better in more creative subjects like art, reading, and music. However, at an all-boys high school, boys are more willing and able to participate in these creative subjects. Similar to the benefits of an all-girls school, teachers at all-boys schools are able to use learning strategies aimed towards benefiting men, which may not be as efficient if females were in the class. Teachers are able to spend more time, and boys are encouraged to more actively participate, as there are no females in the classroom. With this active participation in these creative subjects, and these teaching strategies, boys will be able to better develop creative skills, and more readily incorporate these skills in the workforce.
Overall, the benefit of sending your child to a same-sex school is that same-sex schools offer the benefit of having only one gender in the classroom at a time, which creates opportunities that don’t exist in the coed classroom. As a result, teachers are able to use strategies in the all-girls classroom and in the all-boys classroom that don’t work as well, or even at all at co-ed schools.
Stay tuned though, because a more efficient way of learning is only one reason why you should send your child to a same-sex school. I will explain in more detail the multiple other benefits of same-sex education in posts to come.
Overall, the benefit of sending your child to a same-sex school is that same-sex schools offer the benefit of having only one gender in the classroom at a time, which creates opportunities that don’t exist in the coed classroom. As a result, teachers are able to use strategies in the all-girls classroom and in the all-boys classroom that don’t work as well, or even at all at co-ed schools.
Stay tuned though, because a more efficient way of learning is only one reason why you should send your child to a same-sex school. I will explain in more detail the multiple other benefits of same-sex education in posts to come.
Information From:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/sabrinaparsons/2013/10/25/weve-come-a-long-way-women-in-the-workplace/
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.ling/differences_in_math__science__and_readinghttp://www.stjosephacademy.org/about/news/2013/08/225-make-a-gift-now/