Does single sex education benefit young men?

Story by Ed Crews

For many Fishburne graduates and parents, the answer is an emphatic – Yes!

Alumni tend to agree with Damon Edwards, Class of 1988, when he praises the effectiveness of our all-male classrooms.

“The obvious benefit that comes to mind is focus! 　Had there been girls there I would not have focused on academics,” he said. “My sole purpose would have centered around impressing some girl.”

Others like the way Fishburne’s single sex environment helps young men to participate fully in their education. For example, Mike Rogers said his son, Derek, Class of 2012, has thrived here. He’s more engaged and more open in classes than he was in public school.

“Mixed classrooms contribute to distractions. But, more importantly boys have a different way of communicating– shall we say, more straightforward and aggressive but in a positive way,” Mike said. “In the politically correct world this is sadly discouraged. Also, the drama that comes with mixed classrooms is not present.”

For decades, Fishburne has advocated single sex education for young men. That wasn’t always popular. Yet, recently, more and more educators understand what we’ve known since 1879. Proof? In 2002, single sex education was available in less than a dozen U.S. public school systems. Today, close to 400 programs exist. That’s not a landslide. But, it does suggest that single sex education works well for many students.

Part of the shift in thinking comes from new educational and brain science studies, said Kathy Piechura-Couture. She’s an education professor at Stetson University in Deland, Fla.

According to the professor, research shows that biological and developmental differences impact the way that boys and girls learn. Boys tend to like active educational experiences. Girls often hesitate to jump into classroom give-and-take.

Our teachers know from experience that the Professor Piechura-Couture is right. So, they tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of young men. Derrick Weaver, Class of 1999, remembers clearly how this benefitted him.

“I found that since we were an all-boys school, the instructors had shorter classes to help us learn better. Apparently, research shows that teenage boys only have about a 45 minute attention span. This meant that a larger percentage of class time was benefiting me and my classmates,” said Weaver, who now is pursuing a master’s degree in information technology at Virginia Tech.

In addition, the Florida professor notes that single sex education removes barriers to learning. All-male environments make it easier for boys to ignore gender stereotypes and to pursue their interests in subjects like art, music and drama. Plus, survey data shows overwhelmingly that male and female students enjoy greater self-esteem and a more intense interest in learning in a single sex school.

Even critics concede that single sex classes work because teachers and parents are highly motivated to help students thrive. We agree. Our commitment to each boy’s success is great. That explains why we’re so pleased to hear graduates, like Weaver, speak glowingly of his experience here.

“A Fishburne education is much more than academics,” Weaver said. “It also includes life lessons as well as a brotherhood that will continue for years to come. That’s why I’m proud to be a Fishburne graduate.”