Single Sex Education vs Co-Education Research Paper

Single Sex Education vs Co-Education - Research Paper Example Today, most of the single sex educational institutions in various countries have been converted into coeducation schools or colleges. However, the effectiveness of coeducation is still doubtful as many researches have pointed out the benefits of single sex education as well. It has been identified that single-sex education caters best to the academic achievement of girls. The present study, therefore, seeks to explore the various advantages and disadvantages of both single sex and coeducation systems of education and in doing so the paper deals with the history and growth of both the educational systems as well. Definitions It is worthwhile to understand the scope and significance of both single-sex and coeducation systems. Single-sex education is so designed to meet the educational needs of a particular sex only. As pointed out by Mael et al, â€Å"single-sex education refers most generally to education at the elementary, secondary, or postsecondary level in which males or females attend school exclusively with members of their own sex† (Mael et al ix). On the other hand, coeducation can be defined as an integrated system of education for both the sexes and as such the educational system is also known as mixed schooling. Coeducational system seeks to put an end to the educational disparities that prevail in communities and the ultimate aim of coeducation is to offer equal educational opportunities to everyone irrespective of one’s gender or sex. ... In this respect, Radford observes that it is the â€Å"social pressures to encourage cross-sex contact and socialization in a more ‘natural’ environment† that have promoted the growing number of co-education system since the 1960s (Radford 27). Early researches on co-education and single-sex education identified that co-education is highly beneficial for boys whereas there was no noticeable positive impacts on the academic achievement of girls. Studies have also shown that in terms of academic achievement single-sex education best suits for girls. Marsh et al merged one girls’ and one boys’ school into two co-educational schools and the results of the five-year longitudinal study revealed that the merger increased the self-concept of both sexes even though there was no considerable evidence in terms of better academic achievement (Radford 28). Another remarkable study conducted by Lee and Bryk in 1986 revealed that â€Å"girls in single-sex schools were more likely to associate with academically oriented peers, and have an interest in both mathematics and English† (Radford 29). On the other hand, there are many others who hold that coeducation facilitates socialization and that the system prepares girls towards social and democratic life. Therefore, it is imperative to identify which of the two systems best cater to the modern society and for this it is essential to make a probe into the pros and cons of both coeducation and single-sex education. Literature Review The literature review of the paper focuses on the history and growth of both coeducation and single sex education, evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of both the system, reviews the previous researches and studies on their pros and cons, evaluates the present day status of both

Compating Two Architecs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Compating Two Architecs - Essay Example Rapid urbanization and the high demand for houses has led to variations in the architectural designs that are used in the design of structures. There are contradictory forces between those who propose simple structures that are practical without ornaments and those that demand for traditional architecture that embraced ornaments to beautify the structures. Significantly, there is a great divide between the construction of simple practical structures that do not lay emphasis on ornaments and using of ornaments in architecture. It would be appropriate to consider the impact of either form of architecture to the environment. In essence, architecture in either the traditional or modern form should be able to stand harmoniously with culture.(Rhodes, 1995). It should be noted that the changing facets of architecture have been brought about by commercialism and consumption attitudes, architectural fashions and professional egoism that have significantly transformed over the decades. Towns a nd urban centers should have architectural designs that provide an identity to the place and present an appreciation of the cultural aspects of the place. Over the generations, architecture has been between mankind and the environment around them. As individual characteristics are different so it should be with cities, with urban planning. In traditional architecture, ornaments were accorded very high value. ... Tall imposing buildings are meant to show economic advancement without necessarily being appealing from the ornamental perspective. The prerequisites are visibility and surprise; the creation of a distinct image in the observer’s mind for capturing his attention. This goes to the extent of borrowing symbols and motifs from earlier periods or other culture in order to legitimize a new social order. Modern architecture has given prominence to the concept of â€Å"internationalization†. The design of buildings has become uniform regardless of the cultural background. It has become a norm to have generic high rise block buildings in almost every city in the world. The advent of modern architecture in the 1920s marked the beginning of the demise for ornamental architecture. The notion of good design has evolved to mean that an architectural design has to be plain and simple. According to Loos (1998), ornamentation was unnecessary and had high cost implications. The origins o f modern architecture can be attributed to the social and political revolutions of that time. Advances in technology and engineering gave rise to new materials such as iron and steel which encourage minimalist design. The paper seeks makes a comparison between two architects: showcasing modern minimalist architecture and the traditional ornamental architecture. The major issue is to analyze the impact of both forms of architecture to the society. Notably, the impact of the evolution of architecture over time is analyzed in order to ascertain its relevance to the society and the environment. Traditional Ornamental Architecture: Dankmar Adler The definition of an