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Considering A Girls Boarding School for your Daughter?

Will My Daughter Benefit from an All-Girls Boarding School

A Girl's Perspective on the All-Girl Boarding School Classroom

How to Help Your Daughter Accept the Idea

What to Expect

Girls Who Cut

Rise in Delinquency Among Teen Girls

Four-Legged Therapists: Dogs Teach Valuable Lessons to Troubled Teens

Girl Brains and Brainy Girls

Adventurous Travels With a Daughter

The People-Pleaser Mentality
Why "Nice" Girls Sometimes Finish Last

Bipolar Disorder in Teen Girls

The Value of Boarding School for Middle School Aged Girls

Teaching Young Women About Sexual Harassment

Girl Bullies

Transitioning to Womanhood: Why Girls Need More Support

I Want My Daughter to Do Better in Math and Science

Addressing Violence among Teenage Girls is a Team Effort

Is Your Daughter Being Bullied?

Positive Ways to Deal with Your Teen Daughter's Emotions

News and Articles

"When no boys are in the classroom girls take part more. They answer more questions, and they argue more. I guess you would say they debate more, but I remember the same situation happening when boys were in the class and a couple of them yelled out "Cat Fight!" The girls got angry, and they stopped debating."

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Finding a Middle Ground in Co-Ed and Single-Sex Education

By Meghan Vivo

 Which is better: co-ed or single-sex education? Many parents face this dilemma when choosing a school for their child, and the truth is there are benefits and drawbacks to both. On one hand, evidence suggests that boys and girls learn and mature differently and excel in a learning environment that caters to their particular needs. On the other hand, high school is also one of the first places young people learn how to interact and form relationships with members of the opposite sex, as they will be called upon to do for the rest of their lives.

 
The School Dilemma: Co-Ed vs. Single-Sex
 
Research in this area is conflicting, with numerous studies pointing to the overwhelming benefits of single-sex education juxtaposed against studies suggesting that co-ed education is as good, if not better, in terms of academic performance and the development of life skills. Here are a few of the reported benefits of the single-sex classroom:
 
  • Teachers have more time, energy, and focus, and are thus better able to cater to the specific learning styles of boys and girls
  • Students are more focused on learning than impressing members of the opposite sex
  • Each gender is encouraged to excel in areas they may otherwise fall behind in, such as math and science for girls and language and writing for boys, which results in less gender stereotyping
  • There is less peer pressure and less focus on appearance
  • Both boys and girls are more prone to adopt leadership roles and confidently pursue their unique interests
In contrast, proponents of co-ed education argue the following benefits of mixed-gender classrooms:
 
  • Students learn how to interact and work with members of the opposite sex
  • Collaboration between the sexes in the classroomhelps build confidence and exposes students to a greater diversity of ideas and opinions
  • Co-ed schools better reflect the diversity of our society and foster an environment that prepares students for real-world experiences and situations
  • Graduates from co-ed schools are socially well-adjusted and are better prepared to enter the workforce or excel in post-secondary education
  • Students are exposed to different role models, leadership styles, and values and lifestyles
The Best of Both Worlds
 
With all of the conflicting research and opinions, how does a parent decide whether co-ed school or single-sex school is right for their son or daughter? In large part, it depends on the particular child and the particular school. If a student is failing or falling behind in public school, often the best solution is a therapeutic boarding school.
 
Some therapeutic boarding schools have managed to blend the best of both worlds, offering single-sex classes or specialty groups as well as co-ed classes and groups. Oakley School, a co-ed college preparatory therapeutic boarding school for teens ages 14 to 19, has achieved an ideal balance by offering co-ed classrooms as well as gender-specific therapeutic groups. In this environment, students have the opportunity to participate in activities with members of the same sex without sacrificing regular interactions with opposite-sex peers.
 
Because teenage girls and boys are different in many ways – they face different social pressures, have different learning styles, and experience unique struggles at home and in school – the Oakley School offers a special “women’s empowerment group” as well as a boys’ group, both of which meet once a week as part of the group therapy curriculum.
 
The girls’ group is a safe place for Oakley’s female student body to discuss self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, body image, communication patterns, and other issues of special interest to them. In a nurturing, non-competitive environment that encourages openness and mutual respect, the students share personal experiences and struggles while offering one another feedback and support.
 
Boys at Oakley School receive a similar opportunity to bond with and share experiences with other young men. In a supportive group therapy setting, the boys are able to talk about relationships, self-image, and the transition into manhood without worrying about the opinions or perceptions of the opposite sex.
 
Having a gender-specific outlet for expressing sensitive emotions or experiences has been immensely therapeutic for young people struggling with defiance, depression, and other emotional and behavioral issues. At the same time, students at the Oakley School reap the social, personal, and academic rewards of living and attending school on a co-ed campus. Learn more by visiting www.oakley-school.com/girls-program.html.
 
If you’re searching for schools for your troubled teen, find out whether therapeutic boarding schools like Oakley School in Utah have the right blend of co-ed and single-sex experiences for your child. Every teen – and every family – is unique and deserves a school environment that is a close match to their particular needs.

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