Coeducation: This is a teaching whereby both sexes are taught in the
same classrooms, and allows for intermingling of boys and girls. There are
those advocates for such kind of education since in the normal daily life both
sexes are interacting so the school should be no different. Co educationists
say that differentiating children denies them an integral part in their
development and this can have an effect in their later life. With such arguments parents are always at a dilemma
to settle on which kind of school they would like their children to attend. The
differentiated schools also have their advantages hence a parent has to carry
out an analysis based on the child’s needs. It means parents can choose
different school models for their children based on what they deem fit for the
child. It is also possible for children to go to a coed during the early years
and university whiles the high school in a differentiated one.
During the early years, in children, the difference in the sexes does
not play out a lot. It will be good for them to be mixed and learn the basics
about each other. Such an environment is conducive, but in high school,
adolescence sets in hence it will be prudent for children to be a
differentiated school. Most of the times because of the rapid changes happening
in their bodies the children cannot cope up with their studies. Distractions of
adolescence are a challenge in a coed, and in order to minimize on this
children should be in single sex schools. This is the time stereotypes on
certain subjects based on sex sets in; hence the children academic life will be
a bit difficult. But if the children are in differentiated schools it means
they can take up the challenge as equals and excel. During this time children
are obsessed with grades, so it will be detrimental if certain stereotypes
exist.
It has been argued that coed provides a realistic approach of preparing
children to take up natural positions in the society in future. We have to
remember that these positions are taken up in adulthood, but this is not
possible for the adolescents who are struggling to cope up with body changes. Let
them first cope with the changes and accept who they are then prepared for
adulthood while in the university. The basic foundation will already have been
laid during the formative years. It is said that the coed offers a chance for
children to form friendships that contribute to meaningful relationships. I
disagree with this that most of the time they are immature to form any
meaningful relationship beyond boy/girl friend cocoons. The education system
should offer a chance for students in differentiated schools to interact in
educational and extracurricular activities so that they learn from each other.
If they are together everyday especially in high school, then it will be hard
for them to notice that the differences that exist and how should be handled.
Differentiated schools break the tendency of some teachers showing favoritism
to a certain gender because of the stereotypes in regards to certain subjects. This
is very much evident when children are in secondary schools, but differentiated
schools do not allow this hence children can try out and be the best since
there is no prejudice. Children can take on subjects considered traditionally
meant for certain genders and excel.
My conclusion then is that children should benefit from both methods
but at different stages of their schooling. For kindergarten and primary coed
is good for them while in secondary school differentiated will be preferred. Adolescents
due to peer pressure and body changes will try to impress the other sex and
this can and always the main preoccupation at this stage so good to
differentiate their schools. For university and tertiary education coed will be
fine since most of them will be young adults and gotten over adolescence and
its peer pressure to conform. At this stage they are more mature and hence can
handle sexual relationships better and the same time have settled on which
career to pursue.
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