Reply to Blair Magnet Sexism

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is horrifying! Things were a bit like this when I was in high school in the early 80s, but I would have thought things would be better now! I am so sorry these kids didn't feel empowered to come forward, and I'm sorry that those who did were brushed aside. This is a toxic classroom environment especially for girls, but also for boys. I have a child headed to Blair next year, and the school had better be getting their shit together. [/quote]
I don't think you need to worry.  The teacher is gone and it is a new administration.  I have discussed this issue with my child and others in the program and feel reassured that this is not an issue and has not been one since Walstein left.  Having said that [b]STEM is notorious for often being hostile to women [/b]especially at the college/grad school level so I am glad this story came out and prodded me to have this discussion with my child.  Our daughters need to know that they should speak up and in today's #MeToo era they will be taken seriously and our sons need to know that they should also speak up for their fellow classmates and future colleagues.[/quote]

As a parent who's daughter is in a college STEM program and looking forward to a Ph.D. program after graduation, she has had better experience at the University of Maryland than in MCPS.  Treatment of women in these fields depends on the culture of the organization.  Some have made improvements to encourage women in STEM, some ignored persistent problems and have a long way to go so females have equal access and are treated fairly.[/quote]

Actually, I would say the same abut my HS v. college experience back in the bad old days.  It wasn't until college that my skills received any special attention.  High School had more gate keeping and teachers like this goon, who could pontificate about genius (and act out these prejudices) without recourse.  College really was closer to a meritocracy.  There was a very clear reversal of fortunes playing out where students who had been coddled in HS found out they didn't necessarily have what it takes.  [/quote]

I guess I was one of the fortunate few 80s HS math girls ('84-'88). Maybe b/c all my HS math teachers were women? Maybe just my own arrogance? I don't know. Never felt outclassed by the boys. Took highest honors/GT/AP classes, on math team & in math honor soc. Didn't get straight As b/c I wouldn't do my homework & got Cs on homework quizzes b/c I was doing all the work during the quiz!  Never got a chance to find out in college b/c I majored in history (even though I wrote a scholarship essay on my calculus teacher, who was top math teacher at the school & a woman)! Oh well. I'll just live vicariously through my kids, who oddly have dealt w/ more girl discrimination (from students, not teachers) in middle school magnet than I did in all of middle & HS. But, with some encouragement me & friends/fam as well as supportive teachers, they are stronger for it. A shame they have to be "strong" and hope there are universal changes. [/quote]

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