We need to address gender biased curriculum

The American Association of University Women believes that no one benefits from a dialogue that pits boys against girls. In her January 5 article "Federal Government Girl Power," Judy Jarvis does just that by discounting the serious drop in self-esteem that happens to both boys and girls as they enter adolescence. Its just that the research shows that in boys it drops, in girls it plummets.

AAUW's male and female members do not engage in male bashing - almost all of our members have sons, nephews, husbands, grandfathers, and male friends.

The only time we in AAUW get "cranky" is when intolerant people don't listen carefully. Name calling serves no one well.

In 1992, AAUW began publishing research about the bias found in schools - in the curriculum, in the day-to-day treatment of female students, in the low numbers of girls studying math and science, and in sexual harassment. When education shortchanges girls, America is shortchanged. All of us deserve better.

What is the correlation between education and earning power? Statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce state that the median income of men who do not graduate from high school is $22,048 while the median income of women with some college is $23,514. Women have to have more education just to stay even with men's salaries. In Connecticut, the most affluent state in the nation, women earn $.67 for every dollar men earn.

AAUW's research points to the need for national education reform, and AAUW is offering real recommendations to solve real problems. Teacher awareness of barriers that have kept girls from math, science and technology programs, and grants and fellowships to teachers, schools and communities to improve the classroom environment so both boys and girls learn. AAUW encourages change in gender biased curriculum! Our efforts focus on what's good for all students, not just what's good for boys or girls.

Myra and David Sadker of American University conducted much of the research into this issue and authored the book Failing At Fairness. Myra once said that if the cure for cancer is in the mind of a girl, we may never find it. Sadly, Myra died of cancer in 1995. It will apparently take years of advocating for educational equity so that each person, male and female, achieves his or her potential. Because we represent a broad spectrum of interests and professions, AAUW members represent America's interests in the quality of education all children, girls and boys, receive in our schools.