By Ben McEachenTuesday 27 Feb 2024Hope MorningsNewsReading Time: 2 minutes
With Sydney’s Newington College changing from single-sex to co-ed in the next few years, the debate about the fate of all-boys schools has been inflamed.
There have been protests against this move by Newington alumni, while others would be happy to see the end of all-boys schools.
Simon Smart doesn’t want single-sex schools to be eliminated.
Executive Director of Centre for Public Christianity, Simon attended an all-boys school and, later, taught at another one for ten years.
“There are lots of good arguments for co-ed schools,” Simon told Hope Mornings.
“I just can’t get on board with the idea that all single-sex boys’ schools are a thing of the past and have no place.
“I think they do and, in the right circumstances, make a really great contribution to raising excellent young men.”
During a period where boys and young men are encouraged to cultivate the “full emotional range”, Simon wonders if they would feel comfortable doing this in a co-ed environment.
Simon said his own school experience was not ideal.
He experienced many of the elements which have become broadly characterised as “toxic masculinity”.
However, as a teacher at an all-boys school, he witnessed the positive influence the single-sex environment can have.
“There was a lot of attention paid to celebrating a wide range of gifts, interests and abilities.
“Fostering a sense that it means more than just one thing to be a man.”
During a period where boys and young men are encouraged to cultivate the “full emotional range”, Simon wonders if they would feel comfortable doing this in a co-ed environment.
A key reason for offering all-boys schools is choice, Simon says.
Also, Simon said that a key reason for offering all-boys schools is choice.
“We mostly think choice is a good thing and when it comes to the education of our children, many parents recognise a ‘horses for courses’ principle makes sense.
At the same time, Simon pointed out that the provision of all-girls schools is not challenged: “No-one seems to argue about them”.
Supportive of the “best version” of a single-sex boys’ school, Simon said a valuable pillar of such a school would be the Christian model of service.
Whether it is a single-sex or co-ed school, Christianity’s call to put others first could be the life lesson for students which is most defining.
“The attitude to life where you are deploying whatever skills, gifts, abilities, strengths that you have, in the service of other people, I think this is a key thing for all of us – but perhaps particularly for young men,” Simon said.
“That they see this picture of a man doing whatever he can to be serving other people well and that a full life comes from that.”
Listen to the full interview with Simon Smart in the player above.
Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro