Opposites do not subtract
Do you choose a large school for the facilities — or a smaller one that feels personal? Will your child do best in a single-sex school, or in a co-educational one?
The gender aspect has long exercised parents. They want their child to mix with the opposite sex, but they fear that the distraction will mean their exam grades will suffer.
A recent report suggests that these fears are unfounded. Social scientists in America who examined studies carried out in their own country, and in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, found that students in single-sex schools did no better than those in co-education, once, that is, the pupil’s academic standard on entering the school and the mix of social class had been taken into account.
These findings were similar to those found by the ESRI in Ireland in the late 1990s. “We found very little difference,” says Emer Smith, one of the authors of the ESRI report. “It was the social-economic background of the school that made a difference to performance, not the mix of the sexes.”
At present, 35% of second-level schools are single-sex. “And though girls sometimes do less well in maths at co-educational schools, there is no significant difference in overall academic achievement between single-sex and coeducational schools, for both boys and girls,” says Smith.
Moira Donaghue, English coordinator at Calasanctius College, Oranmore, Co Galway, has taught in both systems. She also says there is little academic difference.
“What makes a successful student is an interested parent. I sell revision books at Gort School Supplies (www.easyschoolbooks.ie) and some parents find the money for books and materials because they are determined that their child will do well. It also depends on the individual child. If they want to be successful, they will do their best, whatever their background,” she says.
The American report found that, socially, co-education was best. They also found that the difference between the sexes grew in single-sex schools, making interaction between them more difficult.
Donaghue says that with the rise of social media, this aspect has changed. “Girls and boys will find their social outlet outside school,” she says. “Facebook is like a giant pen-pal service. And a girl who would be distracted by boys in the co-ed system will be distracted by boys anyway.”
We asked students from three schools to tell us what they think about studying with, or without, the opposite sex.
Mark Noble went to an all-boys primary school, and found the adjustment to co-education tough at the start.
“There was a different atmosphere with girls around, but once you get used to it you can concentrate and work to the best of your ability. I don’t have a girlfriend in school, and I don’t find having girls around a distraction. They are friends, just as the boys are,” he says.
“There’s a wide range of subjects taught here, you get some boys taking home-economics and some girls taking woodwork. I think that’s brilliant. I think being co-ed prepares you better for life after school.
“The best thing about having girls in the school is that they calm us boys down. I think having them around makes us more mature. I can’t really think of a downside.”
When Emma Kenihan started in first year, she was conscious of the boys.
“I’d been to an all-girls school, and the boys drove me up the walls. They were so irritating. But it’s good, now, getting their views,” she says.
“The staff here is mixed, too, and there are wonderful male and female role models. I think that benefits everyone.
“Girls can be sensitive about their looks. I’ve learned that boys can be too. But I don’t try to impress the boys. I’ve better things to do than slap on make-up. The focus here is on trying to do well.
“The boys are stronger in some subjects, the girls in others. We often help each other out. I sit with a friend, David. If I’m struggling, he’ll give me his opinion and I’ll give him mine.
“The boys can bring out the child in us. They’ve taught us not to take ourselves too seriously. And I’ve learned sarcasm — and to know when the boys are messing and when they’re serious. That’s the best thing.
“The worst is that you get some hooligans. They like to put girls down. Sometimes, I feel like saying to the boys, ‘cop on’.”
Rónán O’Connor is working flat out to get the points to study law. He attended a co-education school in America until he was 11. He found the US system, where there was a feeling of working with the teachers, was more inclusive than in Ireland. And the adjustment to an Irish boys’ school was tough.
“But I like the strong tradition here,” he says. “Uniforms help too. I can learn with no distractions. And I do meet girls, through music, debating and sport.
Eoin Roche, who plans to study medicine, says that if girls were around he’d be embarrassed to express his views.
“I’d be afraid they might mock my accent in French classes. And the other thing is that here there’s no stigma in joining the choir or being in a play. It’s accepted. Not like in my co-ed primary school.
“Life is co-ed, but while you’re at school, it’s important to get the points to prepare you for life. Girls would be a distraction. And we don’t need girls to have a good discussion,” he says.
In fifth year, Sarah Honan thought of changing to a co-education school. “An all-girls school can be gossipy. I thought the atmosphere might be better in a mixed school,” she says. I changed my mind, because friends in a mixed school said the girls worry about make-up and doing their hair each day. I’m working flat out for points. I’m aiming for English or psychology at Trinity. I can come in looking a mess and be anonymous.
“Boys are less mature than girls, and I know I’d find them a distraction. By the time I get to college, I’ll be mature enough to cope being around them. And I’ll be studying what I love, so won’t be easily distracted. I keep my social life separate. I prefer it that way.”
Ciara Giles-Doran says that in co-ed school, girls get more hung up on the social side than the academic. “I think it would be harder to settle if there were boys around. And it would be much harder to focus. My mum agrees. That’s why she sent me here.
“By 16, most girls know groups of boys outside school, so it’s not going to be a problem mixing later on. I’m in Ferrybanks athletics club, and I train alongside boys all the time.
“I’m thinking of doing engineering or architecture. I did technical graphics for Junior Cert. I would love to do woodwork, and we can’t here — but if I was in a mixed school, I think I’d be embarrassed to do it beside the boys.”
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