Introduction
In Korea, there are mixed-gender and single-gender schools. Single-gender
schools educate just one gender at an institution. Mixed-gender
schools educate both genders at the same institution. In the past,
most middle and high schools were single-gender schools. However,
now most schools embrace co-education. Today our debate is on whether
co-education improves students’ academic performance. Let’s see
what our debaters think.
Henry
(Constructive)
Co-education improves students’ academic performance. Boys and girls
have many different ideas to share with each other. Co-education
improves academic performance because students are exposed to a
more diverse set of ideas. Students learn best from people who are
different from them. Also, mixed-gender classes create a better
learning environment. For example, studies show that girls are generally
calmer than boys in the classroom. Therefore, the presence of female
peers helps create a more focused learning environment.
Ashley
(Constructive)
Co-education does not improve students’ academic performance. Boys’
and girls’ brains are biologically different and work in very different
ways. For example, studies show that girls are more often visual
or auditory learners, while boys are more likely to be kinesthetic
learners, who learn by doing. Therefore, it makes natural sense
to put students in single-gender schools so that teachers can adapt
their teaching styles according to the specific needs of their students.
Also, students feel shyer about sharing their ideas in mixed-gender
classrooms.
Henry
(Rebuttal)
There is also research that claims that the learning differences
between boys and girls have been exaggerated. Therefore, co-education
works well because boys and girls actually learn in similar ways.
Boys and girls do have their differences, but I claim that these
differences improve academic performance. The differences help create
a more creative, interesting, and collaborative learning environment.
Finally, students must learn to share their ideas in mixed-gender
settings because their future co-workers will most likely be both
female and male.
Ashley
(Rebuttal)
Students may be able to learn different things in mixed-gender schools.
However, they can concentrate better and receive better attention
from their teachers in single-gender schools. The focus of today’s
debate is academic performance. Although co-education has its positive
characteristics, students learn better and get higher test scores
in single-gender schools. Furthermore, you pointed out that girls
are generally calmer than boys. So, surely a classroom full of girls
is better than a mixed-gender classroom.
Judge’s
Comments
Today’s winner is Henry. Ashley committed the debate fallacy called
“appeal to nature.” Debaters commit this fallacy when they make
claims arguing about what is “natural” to support their side. For
example, Ashley claimed that boys’ and girls’ brains are biologically
different. Therefore, she said, it only makes natural sense to separate
girls and boys into different learning institutions. The fact that
there is a natural difference between boys and girls does not mean
that it makes sense to separate them in school.