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Diocesan Boys' School
Department of Educational Administration and Policy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Co-education in single sex schools
By Sam Ho
|
Sam
Ho
 Last day farewell |
While most secondary schools in Hong Kong are co-educational, there still
are some single-sex schools.
The Diocesan Boys?School is a traditional single-sex school in Hong Kong. It was founded in the mid-19th century.
Mr. Chang Cheuk Cheung, the new principal of Diocesan Boys?School, organised an exchange programme with the Jockey Club Ti-I College, a co-educational school.
Through the exchange programme, he expects the boys to have more interaction with girls.
He also wants them to explore more and gain an understanding of students and campus life at other schools.
“I see no problem because the programme is not revolutionary. Boys and girls learning in the same classroom is absolutely natural.
|
Sam
Ho
 |
“Most students are extremely enthusiastic about the programme,?added he.
In the first stage, the programme received nearly 50 applications, even though only six places were available.
Parents have positive comments about the programme.
“The idea sounds good. Students can learn to interact with the opposite sex,?said the mother of a Form 1 student at the Diocesan Boys?School.
“My son is curious and feels awkward when he sees girls hanging around the school,? she added.
Participants are Form 4 and Form 6 students in the exchange programme. The first group started the exchange in mid-October.
Each group contains six students, and they go from their own school to another for a period of a week.
They have lessons at the exchange school for three days. Different groups are exchanged week by week.
Mrs. Phyllis Gul, an English teacher at the Diocesan Boys?School, said both the teachers and students are enthusiastic about the programme.
|
Sam
Ho
 The first group is reluctant to part. |
“We have changed since it started. Teachers are now more energetic, as if we have new blood and a new spirit,?said she.
In the near future, the Diocesan Boys?School will join the St. Stephen’s Girls?College as well.
Four girls and two boys formed the exchange group from Ti-I College.
After three days of exchange, they said they enjoyed the lessons.
Their impression of the Diocesan Boys?School was also changed.
“Before we came to the school, we thought this was a traditional school so the students would be highly disciplined ‘bookworms??said one of the participants.
“But now we think they are nice and friendly,?she said.
She said that Diocesan students have a strong sense of belonging to the school and are definitely not bookworms.
“Although three days is too short, it is just the beginning of our friendship. We will keep in touch afterwards,?she said.
Ms. Iris
Wong, a participant in the first exchange group, said, “I like this school
very much. I really would like to stay here, though I know it is impossible.?/font>
While exchange
students from Ti-I College had fun, they also brought happiness to the
Diocesan boys.
A Form 6
student at Diocesan Boys?School said, “The classroom atmosphere is better
when the exchange students are with us. Lessons become more interactive,
too.?
However,
Ms. Cheung Sze Ming, another member of the exchange group, had a bad experience
during the programme.
“I used
a camera to record everything in the school. But a reporter wrongly accused
me in an article.
“He wrote
that a girl from Ti-I College recorded scenes of half-naked athletes playing
on the basketball court,?said she.
“I have
no reason to stare at boys here because there are also lots of boys in
my school,?said she.
She said
the article gives people a negative impression of her, as well as the
programme.
There are
other negative comments from the participants.
“I do not
study applied mathematics in my school, but I was arranged to study it
there for three days,?said Charles Shum, an exchange student from Ti-I
College.
“I did my
own work there instead during class,?he said.
On the other
hand, Mr. Chang is satisfied with the programme.
“The first
exchange group turned out with great success.
"I believe
that this programme will be successful and able to fulfill our expectations,?
said he.
A few students
from single-sex schools were interviewed and asked to comment on this
programme.
Most of
them appreciated the idea. They said they would like their schools to
organise such an activity.
Prof. Hung
Fan Sing of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy at
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, commented on the first exchange group.
“I think
the programme is a very good try, though three days of exchange for each
group may be too short,?said he.
“There is
a room for improvement,?he said. “I think that the programme is productive.
I feel optimistic about it." 
| Communication
problems in single sex schools
By
Lilian Goh
Alyssa Lam is a 19-year-old graduate from a single sex primary school and secondary school. She said she copes with university life without difficulty. “I don’t feel shy, and there is no problem for me to communicate with boys,?said Miss Lam (not her real name). She admitted, though, that she did not have male friends in the past. “When boys call me, my parents look at me strangely,?she said, smiling. “They
also say, ‘It’s a boy,?which makes me embarrassed.?/font>
She
said that being in an all girls' school reduced the possibility
of troubles with love affairs. She concentrated on studies.
However,
there are love affairs in single sex schools.
“Some
boyish girls easily attract the attention of other girls,?said
she.
Miss
Winnie Tam also graduated from a single sex school.
She
said homosexuality is rare at all girls' schools.
But
she added that there are ways to meet boys.
“Besides
joint school programmes, you can also make friends in libraries,
study rooms or during summer jobs,?she said.
She
agreed that some girls dress like boys, but this does not mean they
are lesbians. They only want to draw attention to themselves.
“Because
there are no boys at school, girls pay less attention to their manners.
They sit improperly. You can see their underwear, and they don’t
really care,?she added.
Mr.
Tai Sheung Kin is a graduate of the St. Francis Xavier’s School
in Tsuen Wan.
He
said one of his classmates feels uneasy with girls.
“He
is very shy in front of girls,?Mr. Tai said. “If he knows that
girls are going out with us, he will not join us.?/font>
On
the other hand, Mr. Tai admitted that there are few opportunities
to meet friends of the opposite sex.
“So
I joined some extra-curricular activities like musical dramas run
by Breakthrough to know more friends as well as to explore myself,?
said Mr. Tai.
Mr.
Abraham Ng Wai Yat is the social worker at La Salle College.
He
said whether the single sex school students have communication problems
with the opposite sex mainly depends on their personalities.
“If
students are active and outgoing, they can make many friends through
various activities, no matter if they are the same sex or opposite
sex,?said he.
He
also said that boys seldom admit their difficulties in communicating
with girls, as they are afraid of losing face.
“Due
to peer pressure, boys often pretend that they have no difficulties
and are unwilling to unveil their problems,?said he.
Prof.
Leung Seung Ming is an educational psychology professor at The Chinese
University of Hong Kong.
He
said fewer single sex schools exist nowadays because of sexual equality.
However,
he had research pointing out communication problems in girls?schools.
“Students
from girls?schools seldom act as leaders when they deal with boys.
“They
let boys take up the leading roles.
“They
can display their abilities more easily in single sex schools,?
Prof. Leung said.
|
