EDUCATION ISSUES
6.1
57
READING
4
a
Read the comments from an online discussion.
Which comments are for mixed-sex schools, which are
against, and which are neither for nor against?
4
b
Read the comments again and find nouns which
mean the following.
1
sets of numbers which represent a fact (comment 2)
2
the subjects at a school, college, etc. (comment 4)
3
staying away from school without permission
(comment 4)
4
upsetting and frightening someone smaller and
weaker, especially in a school situation (comment 5)
4
c
Match the people in the discussion to the following.
Which person believes:
1
that mixed schools are less competitive?
2
that there is proof that single-sex schools are more
successful?
3
that school should be the same as real life?
4
that the problem isn’t whether a school is single sex
or mixed?
5
that single-sex education caters for girls and boys better?
DISCUSSION:
5
Which of the opinions in the discussion do you
agree with? Which do you disagree with? Why?
SPEAKING AND WRITING
6
Work in groups to discuss the following.
1
Schools should spend more time teaching the skills
people need to get a job.
2
Education is basically a social experience. The
atmosphere is the most important thing.
3
There should be no private education. All children
should attend state schools/universities.
4
The purpose of secondary education is to prepare
you for life.
5
Examination results are the most important aspect of
education.
6
Academic achievement depends mainly on your teacher.
7
Teachers should be paid according to the exam
results of their students.
8
Sport is the most important subject at school.
7
Write a comment giving your opinion on one of the
statements in Exercise 6 for the
Newsline
website.
Newsline: the online news service
Newsline:
the online news service
Comment 1
POSTED BY JANE, AMSTERDAM
I think mixed-sex schools are the only way
for children to learn, because it’s natural.
In higher education and their working
life, they will be mixed so it makes sense
for them to be mixed at school. School
should reflect the real world.
Comment 2
POSTED BY HANS, GERMANY
My reaction to this is very clear. For
me, single-sex schools are much
better, and the statistics show
that they get better exam results,
particularly at secondary level.
Anything which helps children pass
exams must be a good thing.
Comment 3
POSTED BY BILL, USA
Boys and girls learn in very different
ways. I feel that they should be
educated separately so teachers can
focus on their different needs. The way
I see it is that one size doesn’t fit all!
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Comments 1–5 of 5
Comment 4
POSTED BY MARTIN, LONDON
My view on this is that it doesn’t
really matter. What is important is
the curriculum and keeping students
interested. I was a teacher, and we
had a lot of truancy to deal with and
problems with students missing lessons
because they found them boring.
Never have a timetable with Maths as
the first class on Monday morning!
Comment 5
POSTED BY EMILY, SYDNEY
Mixed schools are better, there’s
no question. There is too much
competition at single-sex schools,
which often means that students
don’t make enough progress. I
also think there is more bullying at
single-sex schools, where children are
picked on because of the increased
competition. Single-sex schools lead
to a threatening situation.
Single-sex schools are better than mixed schools
