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Should Sex Education Be Single Sex?

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People who argue for single- sex education would state things such as boys and girls learn differently, there is less classroom distractions, and that they allow girls to feel less pressure at school. Wesley Sharpe, an administrator for Education World, states, “Teachers of all-girl classes seemed to validate the idea that girls performed better in single-sex classes. "I enjoy seeing girls participate so much in class discussions. ... And, like it or not, girls seem to talk more in class in an all-female school. I often see a whole classroom of eighth graders sharing ideas in an animated manner," said Sharon Johnson-Cramer.” (2) The girls would have to feel less pressure to look nice and impress boys in a single-sex school, and it is a valid argument to say that their attention would have to be more so on their education if their class mates where all girls as well. However, Sharpe also states, “There is no evidence in general that single-sex education works or is better for girls than coeducation, and when elements of a good education are present, girls and boys succeed. Elements include small classes and schools, equitable teaching practices, and focused academic curriculum.” (3) Those statements can go hand in hand to show that every child has the ability to become successful no matter the environment as long as they’re being taught in the appropriate way. Emer Smyth, Research Professor and Head of the Social Research Division at the Economic and Social Research

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