CCBC-Net Archives
back to science
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Maia Cheli-Colando <maia>
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 07:50:08 -0700
The local natural history museum offers week-long classes to kids ages 4. I signed Ciara up for two sessions; the first, in June, was a field class, Marsh Explorers. We deliberated together over the second, then chose geology (which she loves) over space. Various factors affected /my/ feelings, but I thought that geology would be more likely to have girls in it, while space might be boy-numbers and boy-energy dominated -- although I did not discuss this with Ciara at the time. We have already seen that in many classes, boys manage to hog the attention with bad behavior, something that is difficult for the most aware teacher to counteract, and nearly impossible for the inexperienced.
Yesterday Ciara went in for her first geology class. 11 boys and 1 girl, her.
In general, perhaps slightly more boys than girls take classes in her age group. Her Marsh class had perhaps 7 girls and 8 boys? But 11-1.... If Ciara were not already so confident at the museum, if she did not know the teacher, had not studied geology before (and were not quite so sure of her own right to be anywhere she chooses, thank you!), I imagine this would be quite hard. It is still hard, as 11 boys in one classroom, one adolescent male helper, and only one girl, are difficult for one 20-year old female teacher to control. Less learning accomplished, and apparently some amazing fits of behavior just in the first day.
When we think about books, and girls reading books, we should take this factor into account. It isn't just natural interest that effects reading choice, it is situations like these. And if books can manage to counterbalance what girls too often experience in the world, then we will be making an important difference.
Maia
Received on Tue 19 Jul 2005 09:50:08 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 07:50:08 -0700
The local natural history museum offers week-long classes to kids ages 4. I signed Ciara up for two sessions; the first, in June, was a field class, Marsh Explorers. We deliberated together over the second, then chose geology (which she loves) over space. Various factors affected /my/ feelings, but I thought that geology would be more likely to have girls in it, while space might be boy-numbers and boy-energy dominated -- although I did not discuss this with Ciara at the time. We have already seen that in many classes, boys manage to hog the attention with bad behavior, something that is difficult for the most aware teacher to counteract, and nearly impossible for the inexperienced.
Yesterday Ciara went in for her first geology class. 11 boys and 1 girl, her.
In general, perhaps slightly more boys than girls take classes in her age group. Her Marsh class had perhaps 7 girls and 8 boys? But 11-1.... If Ciara were not already so confident at the museum, if she did not know the teacher, had not studied geology before (and were not quite so sure of her own right to be anywhere she chooses, thank you!), I imagine this would be quite hard. It is still hard, as 11 boys in one classroom, one adolescent male helper, and only one girl, are difficult for one 20-year old female teacher to control. Less learning accomplished, and apparently some amazing fits of behavior just in the first day.
When we think about books, and girls reading books, we should take this factor into account. It isn't just natural interest that effects reading choice, it is situations like these. And if books can manage to counterbalance what girls too often experience in the world, then we will be making an important difference.
Maia
Received on Tue 19 Jul 2005 09:50:08 AM CDT
