Sexism in the classroom is not a problem that has just occurred overnight in schools. I believe that it has a history, staring long before I was born. I love to listen to the stories that my Grandparents share with me, as do many children my age. They always tell me how great those “good old days” were. Yet the stories make me step back and look at my grandparents, and see that those “good old days” are very different from today. Back then, the male role was heads of the household and they were responsible for any of the “physical work” to be done around the house. On the other hand, women had much less say in what was going on in the house, community, and even the nation. For the most part, women stayed home to take care of the kids and do all the housework that needed to be done. This has been the way of life for along time right up until the Second World War. Then sl

This article “Failing at Fairness” has brought to my attention issues that I will soon be facing. I plan to teach high school math and I have already been placed in a class to practice and get a feel for it. The article has given me a more educated view of the classroom, which will help me to be fairer and not fall into the same traps as many teachers before me unfortunately have.

I believe that the only way to make some changes is to inform teachers of what it going on. Not by simply telling them but letting them see it for themselves or even relive it as many did it the article. Then need to be reminded of what is happening in their classrooms and in classrooms around the world. Also I think that it needs to be addressed and once again demonstrated for the new teachers that are about to enter the work force. And lastly I think that kids need to be encouraged to do whatever they like in life. For example that girls can work in construction and that it is okay for guys to teach, be nurses, or even hairdressers. They also need to be introduced to the same resources, like girls can play with trucks and building blocks and guys can play with dolls and kitchen sets.

In my school we had an advanced math program that began in the third grade. The second grade teacher would pick those students that they thought were the brightest in math and moved them forward. I was one of them. The strange part was that I was the only girl, out of about ten guys. I never really gave it much thought until I read this article. I thought that the other girls just were not as smart as I was. I was reminded of a comment that was made to me that I did not find offensive then. The advanced math teacher always called me her “rose among the thorns.” The teacher was implying that I was the only good student in the class. Then, in eighth grade class I remember it surfacing again. On occasion, t

Some topics in this essay:
World War, Sexism Classroom, sexism classroom, “failing fairness”, advanced math, start believe, girls speak, “good days”, grade class, guys girls,