Re: Reading and Writing

From: edequity@phoenix.edc.org
Date: Tue Feb 15 2000 - 15:15:33 EST

  • Next message: edequity@phoenix.edc.org: "Re: Reading and Writing"

    Barbara and Janice raise several important points that I would like to
    address. First, there is no doubt that there have been remedial programs
    in reading that have focused on boys for decades. My only point is that
    these programs tend to focus solely on the acquisition of technical skills
    and tend to ignore the effect of societal attitudes on reading motivation
    and performance. The fact that a reading and writing gap is relatively
    unique to the United States and other English speaking countries tends to
    confirm that the problem is related to how these subjects are taught.

    One part of the problem may be that for some reason communication skills
    are not considered important for students interested in engineering and
    science. (As an aside, is this one reason for female students lack of
    interest?) In fact, the exact opposite is true. When hiring, corporate
    recruiters consider communication skills to be at least as important as
    technical skill. This could be a reason that the latest IEEE salary survey
    showed that new female electrical engineering graduates had a higher
    starting salary than their male counterparts.

    The effort to achieve equity in math and science can be used as a model of
    what is possible in reading and writing. In fact, I will go so far as to
    say that without addressing the gender differences in reading and writing,
    it will be impossible to achieve true equity in math and science. Based on
    my personal experience, I would say that one-quarter to one-third of male
    first-year engineering students are in the wrong discipline. A lot of them
    in fact would make good elementary teachers, or librarians, or nurses.
    However, they are convinced by teachers, parents, and society that
    engineering is "what men do." If these students had a broader background
    in advanced language or social studies courses in high school, perhaps they
    would have realized this earlier. This would provide more opportunities
    for female students to study math and science at both the high school and
    college level, which could only increase the number of female scientists
    and engineers.

    Stephanie Barlow
    sabwestvir@aol.com



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