Class Notes

09.20.02

By: Jennifer Campbell
Quiz 3
Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
Resource Report 2
Monday: Journal Exercise (online)

Quiz 3
1. The AAUW report “How Schools Shortchange Girls” ends with a list of forty recommendations to improve girls’ educational experiences. What is one of the ways that the report recommends improvement in the way teachers are “prepared and encouraged to bring gender and equity and awareness” into schooling?
Answer: many different answers on page 6 of the AAUW report, recommendations 4-9 For example: If a national teacher examination is developed, it should include items in methods for achieving gender equity in the classroom and curricula.
2. In “The Myth That Schools Shortchange Girls,” Judith Kleinfeld argues that the AAUW report has misused evidence to reach its conclusions. What is one of Kleinfeld’s criticisms? Be specific.
Answer: The AAUW used one study to prove their point that males receive more teacher attention than females do. They used a study that David and Myra Sadker conducted at one elementary and middle school, in which boys called out eight times as much as girls. And when the boys spoke out the teacher listened but when girls called out they were asked to raise their hand to speak. The problem with this study, Kleinfeld argues is that it is hard to find; generally studies are circulated with many copies yet this one was not. She also argues that there is no evidence that teacher attention makes a difference in the student’s achievement in school. Another argument about this research that she brings up is that is was most likely conducted in a classroom where females are suspected to be at a disadvantage.
3. What do you think? Do schools shortchange girls? Boys?
Answer: Your personal opinion.

Discussion of quiz 3 questions
-Do schools shortchange girls? Boys? And is there a simple answer?
Student responses and opinions
-It’s different everywhere. It depends upon the culture, location, race, teacher, classroom so it is not based on just gender
-One cannot say b/c it depends upon the individual teacher.
-Comments on reading
-It was interesting that boys are tagged with A.D.D and other disorders very early on and that it is more common for them to have mental disabilities.
-It use to be that girls were shortchanged at one point in time in the American education system but it has now been over corrected and now boys are shortchanged. -Depends on race. Like in the study, they said that African American boys are shortchanged in the school system, lacking far behind in grades and graduation rates. It is a power issue. The same as when McIntosh talks about whites having an invisible privilege knapsack. Or when Spender says that a male and female could write the same thing but people prefer to read the male’s writing.
-Interesting statistic along with the African-American male being shortchanged. –That a young African-American male has a better chance at going to jail that going to college.
-It is an unconscious social pattern. It is difficult to break.
-Do girls get the same treatment as boys when they are young? Why are less women in science and math fields in comparison to men?
-This men and women difference is shown at a young age when women are encouraged to play with dolls and boys with action figures. Women are encouraged to go into fields such as education and nursing which are care taking fields which are seen in society at feminine. Why is it that at UA the English department is dominated by men when it is shown that females are better at writing?
-It is about money and power.
-You can do what you want to when you grow up but more powerful influences encourage you into certain things.
-Why?
-Social standards.
-Money goes where the social power goes.
-We cannot account for it by biology. Physiological gender differences produce social differences.
-What we like and do not like is not just a personal choice. We are encouraged by social factors in life. Our personal preferences have social orgins.

Turned in Scavenger Hunt Worksheet

Resource Report 2
-Seek help at ANY stage in the report!!!!!!
-Resources:
-Call or e-mail Ruth Dixtine (on class web site)
-E-mail the class list, someone might just have the same question as you.
You can get many quick answers that way.
-E-mail the teaching team (on class web site)
-Go to the Women’s Study Writing Center (info on class web site)

For Monday
-read “Sister Act: Resisting Men’s Domination in Black and White Fraternity Little Sister Programs”
-Journal Exercise Online by Ruth Dixtine
-MUST DO BY MONDAY!