I teach in an all-boys school in Australia. Single sex education is pretty common here and it's accepted by virtually everybody that it produces far better outcomes in terms of discipline and academic results. Slightly more controversial, but generally accepted, is the idea that children educated in single sex environments leave school with better social skills, and a more positive and equitable view of the opposite sex. And contrary to popular belief, it's also better for kids who
don't fit their traditional gender stereotype - a boy who is interested in, say, clothing design, or a girl who is interested in mechanical repair - in a single sex school, they are simply seen as "the boy who's into fashion" rather than "the boy who acts like a girl" or as the "girl who's good with engines" rather than "the girl who acts like a boy" - they are more likely to be accepted for who they are - ('one of the guys/girls, everybody has their quirks) without having their overall gender identity questioned.
Really, it should be a no-brainer. There's no reason to break up coeducational schools that are doing a good job (why fix something that isn't broken) but where you have a problem with significant numbers of schools that aren't doing a good job, this is worth looking at as part of the solution.
I appreciate your reply to this thread.
I felt stronger, more confident and actually empowered when I attended Salem College in Winston-Salem.
It is by far one of the best experiences of my life and, being that I paid for my own tuition, one of which I am most proud.
My most all-time favorite professor was from New Zealand. He was so unbelievably hard and gave much more homework that all of my other professors put together. I was in awe of how much I learned and envious of the New Zealand students for whom this was the norm.