Volume 2, No. 3 (Spring 1998) -- Women's History Month Issue

As a science teacher in a middle school setting, I began to collect information about women in the fields of science and math in order to present female role models to my students. Because I had been an elementary teacher, I was familiar with some of the short biographies present in reading textbooks. I also remembered feature articles at the ends of chapters in social studies and science books. The challenge was to locate sources of new information that were affordable on a school budget.

At a regional science convention in Atlanta, I attended a session entitled "Girls to Scientists." The presenters were Cherry Brewton, Georgia Southern University, and Elizabeth Hays, Barry University. It was in this session that I learned about the National Women's History Project. This organization's catalog contains books, videos, poster sets, and other classroom resources about women. I've purchased several books and poster sets from them (listed at the end of this article).

I joined a small committee interested in gender equity. Meeting once a month with two other teachers, a social worker, and the director of the Multicultural Task for USD 501 in Topeka, we discussed common issues of sexual harassment and sexual stereotyping in classrooms. It was through this group that I learned about the Center for Equity and Cultural Diversity. Their publications are serious papers, with thought-provoking articles on topics such as self-esteem, gender and ability.

Our media specialist, Sondra Lovelace-Rankin, located books for our school library. Some were collective biographies, with stories short enough to be read to classes in a few minutes' time. Some were wholly about women; others were not. Many contained stories about women whose names were familiar, but presented additional information about their backgrounds or work history.

The National Science Teachers Association published a book in 1982 entitled COMETS, career oriented modules to explore topics in science. I received a copy when I participated in a space education class at the University of Kansas. The book was funded through a grant from the TRW foundation and KU. It is divided into three sections: physical science, life science and math. Each section has three topics to explore, plus related careers and biographical information about women in those fields.

A growing amount of material is available on women in the fields of science and mathematics. Search it out. Share it with students you know.

Cheryl White
Robinson Middle School
Topeka, Kansas