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School Bd Discusses Gender Issues

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Are boys and girls treated differently in the Newtown school system?

In a recent Board of Education meeting, school's superintendent John Reed,

discussed gender issues and what is being done about them within the Newtown

district.

This came as follow-up to the 1998 Title IX/Gender Equity Report released at

the end of June.

Dr Reed pointed out that very few high school girls participate in the Tech

Club, a high school computer club, and questioned "What can we do to increase

girls' interest in technology and increase their aggressiveness with its

applications?"

He commented that the NMS computer teacher expressed concern that girls were

far less inclined to be risk-takers in technology than boys. In response, the

school hopes to improve its software library to include programs in art,

music, or even fashion, in order to coax reluctant users into becoming more

computer literate.

Dr Reed commented that middle-grade girls might be more reluctant to take

risks with technology in front of boys, and suggested that single-sex classes

could help girls feel freer to "push the limits" with technology. This could

start in some courses in the fall of 1999.

The district also wants to ensure that girls have inspiring role models for

non-traditional careers such as engineering and computer technology, and boys

for careers such as elementary education and nursing.

Amy Dent, chairman of the Board of Education, recommended that any recent

Newtown High School graduates pursuing post-secondary education in

non-traditional fields, come back and speak to students about their

experiences.

Although girls were well-represented in AP and honors classes overall, last

year's AP physics course, often taken by students interested in pursuing a

career in engineering, was all male.

Dr Reed also expressed concern over the under-representation of boys in honors

and AP courses overall at the high school in 1997-98 school year. Girls took

57 percent of the honors and AP courses taken at the high school (1,345

courses) to boys 43 percent (1,026).

Dr Reed mentioned national statistics which fit with this local one, showing

that 59 percent of the masters degree candidates are female.

In an effort to root out any unconscious gender bias in the educational

system, Dr Reed asked "have we begun to assume that boys will not learn as

well as girls?"

He questioned why more boys than girls are referred for special education

services.

Sixty-five percent of the children receiving remedial special education are

male (233 of 357).

Violence

Dr Reed commented that nationally, in most acts of violence, boys seem to be

the perpetrators. Frequently they are underachieving high school males.

Dr Reed expressed concern that "males get a message, maybe at age three or

four, that they are supposed to be rocks, no emotion."

Boys who are feeling restricted in expressing emotions could develop problems

later on. He said sometimes in defense, underachieving boys adopt the "I don't

care" mask, and they are reluctant to drop it.

Girls on the other hand, who traditionally tend to feel freer with verbalizing

their feelings, are involved in fewer incidents of violence and continue to

pursue academics at higher levels.

Dr Reed would like to see more role models for boys. He reasoned that if more

males were teaching kindergarten or first grade then more boys would see the

warmth, supportiveness and emotional freedom inherent in men as well as women.

Bob Kuklis, assistant superintendent of schools, discussed gender issues with

teachers during staff development. He presented teachers with a video tape

outlining strategies to become more sensitive to the needs of all students,

regardless of gender.

School officials also will be collecting data pertinent to Title IX compliance

questions.