Our educational institutions do more than teaching and giving an identity (The alma mater sentiment). They also mould our thinking
I believe that in communities where parents will get their children educated (cities, suburbs etc.). Co educational school is more useful than a single gender one.
Reason: Have u ever noticed (if you are an Indian) that almost all the desperate for boy/girlfriend people have had been in a single gender school (at least during adolescence).Note that I am talking about those who desperately struggle and fight for a consort, not those with one.
My friend Sri Harsha types about the Valentine’s Day craze when people ‘want to be loved’ this desire is prominent in a S.G. school where anyone who gets the company of ‘others’ is an achiever. For them, the members of the opposite gender are people who can only be dates/lovers/spouses. They never are any of: classmate who learns too much by rote, the senior who lived five roads to the north, some arbit person only seen in assembly/prayer or the hated cribber who begs for marks.
My mom says that ‘in co-ed colleges “…The girls will keep control over the boys…” and vice versa'.
It becomes a question of belongings. You do not belong to the ‘cool group’ if you cannot flash a companion whose looks determine your status. In co-ed institutions eloping is not a fantasy. This may be because any one’s looks and charm do not hold as strong a sway over the mind if there is some one else similarly good looking or slightly lesser you see everyday.
Almost three months after the prohibition of young females entering my hostel came into effect. The truth is that many (not necessarily relatives) have entered inside (not necessarily to meet a single resident).
Such incidents, which earlier would mean nothing (unless the two did something), now become symbols of wit (and of course masculinity)
But this does not mean I totally oppose the concept of single gender schools. They are the reason our grand parents got literate/educated. They are still needed in parts of our huge country where schools are yet to reach. I just believe that its time for these institutions (in educated areas) to move on and become co-educational.
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