An all-boys elementary institution also allows students to explore sides of themselves that they would not think to expose at other types of schools. Dr. Stephen Johnson explains, "We know that, given the right opportunity, boys love to create. They throw themselves into music, art, drama, and creative writing. Most have a strong artistic side. But in a coed setting, many boys simply will not pursue these activities. They don’t try out for the play or join the choir often because of some misguided social sense that these activities are not masculine."
Johnson notes that all-boys schools remove the fear of creativity. They create what he calls a "more inclusive sense of what it means to be male."
This inclusivity is especially important in your child’s elementary years. When young, your son may begin to see himself in relation to the world. Who am I? How do I stack up to my peers? What can or can't I do in public? Many of these questions concern a boy’s identity. By enrolling a young man in an all-boys private school, you are giving him a chance to find his identity in a less pressure-filled environment than you may find elsewhere.
There are many other issues of gender. For example, psychologists also find that boys are slower than girls in academic development in their early years. Girls often read before boys do and they perform better in school in elementary school grades. All boys in elementary private schools deal with young men in this respect and many others. There are many benefits to all-boys schools. To learn more about gender-specific and coed schooling, read our guide.
Paying for an all-boys private school
Today, private schools are more affordable than they have ever been. Plenty of institutions offer tuition for $5,000 or less. However, if you are concerned about covering a school’s tuition, you have many resources to help you. Some of these include:
- Scholarships: Does your son have exemplary achievements in a certain area? If so, then he may be eligible for a scholarship.
- Bursaries: An all-boys private elementary school might provide you with financial aid if you are in need.
- Tax Breaks: Private education can receive a tax break for religious instruction or special needs, among other cases.
- Charitable organizations (e.g. Youth in Motion) may help you pay for private school.
Read our guide on questions to ask elementary schools you're considering.
