Single Sex Schooling for Boys _ Educator

A visiting educator on boys’ learning believes single sex schooling may be best for many young men.

Armed with 25 years experience in schooling, Joseph Driessen will be speaking in Timaru on Monday on parenting for success at school.

Mr Driessen said yesterday that single sex boys’ schools were doing a great job and in general “boys do better in boys’ schools.”

However, he said parents knew their own sons and some may decide co-educational secondary education suited them best.

“Some boys won’t like a boys’ school.”

Mr Driessen said parents were now voting with their feet and sending their children to boys-only schools.

He said the culture of those schools suited boys’ learning. They had a structured approach to learning, were rich in tradition, culture and sport, and celebrated the achievement of males.

Boys’ schools also provided male role models. For many, this may be the first positive role model in their lives, Mr Driessen said.

Statistics showed that 35,000 relationships break up each year in New Zealand, and Mr Driessen said only 15 per cent of these children had regular contact with their dads.

Mr Driessen said boys and girls learned differently, and schools needed to adapt to the different styles. A number of co- educational secondary schools were already doing this. He advised parents to check with the school.

At the Timaru Boys High School hall on Monday, Mr Driessen will be giving parents advice on how to improve their sons’ academic success.

The programme includes information on how to motivate boys, understanding boys’ learning styles, why structure empowers boys to learn, and ways to help boys’ success in school.