An article posted on the electronic edition of The Globe and Mail caught my attention the other day. The title was provocative – “Study finds ‘collateral damage’ of same-sex schools.” Sensationalism aside, the article reported on a recent study out of Penn State University that concluded single-sex schools, “… fail to show any demonstrable educational improvements over co-ed schools – but more importantly, there is evidence to suggest that children at such schools are more likely to accept gender stereotypes.”

I was also very interested in the fact that the study referred to recent brain research on the subject. “Despite the commonly held notion that boys and girls have different brains that require different teaching styles, Prof. Liben  (Professor of Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, and Education, Penn State) points out neuroscientists have found very little difference between male and female brains, and none of them are connected to education.”

The article and its link to an excerpt from the journal Science are worthwhile reading and possibly passing on to friends.—Patrick Peotto, Assistant Head

PS:

For more information about the advantages of coeducation, read:

• The Benefits of a Coeducational Environment (CAIS, survey 2005-2006)
• The American Council for Coeducational Schooling (website)