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Gender Equity in Schools

Is Your Daughter Being Forced to Choose Between Pretty and Smart?

By Paul Hartwick

But it's not all doom and gloom. Teachers are certainly conscious of gender equity concerns. The National Education Association issued this statement from Executive Director Don Cameron when the "Gender Gaps" report was released: "'Gender Gaps' sounds the alarm and points us in the direction we need to go if we are to prepare all our students to meet the educational challenges ahead. We know that we have a major responsibility in addressing the needs of all students. When large groups of children, whether they are girls or boys, African-American or Hispanic, whether from urban or rural schools, are not performing to the levels they are capable, then we must find out why and provide answers."

Finter and her colleagues find creative ways to keep a level playing field: "I try to provide positive, meaningful examples of women, minorities, men, people from all backgrounds applying the subject matter that I teach," she says. Last year, she brought in two engineers to speak to her class. One was a female packaging engineer; the other was a male mechanical engineer. She also calls on students in random fashion, rotates lab group leaders and provides differentiated levels of instruction to help boost confidence.