She-scientists
the United States there are about a hundred all-girls schools,
some of which started as far as 1907 but all of which are on
the rise today. The main aims of
only-girls schools is to turn the stereotype that women do not
belong in the scientific and technical fields. Evidence proves
that there
a considerable gap between the sexes in the way they face scientific
matters. This gender gap problem comes to its full evidence
in adolescence. As puberty takes hold, girls begin to
their self-confidence. Far from decreasing, the problem persists
through higher education and into the workplace. Whereas women
make up almost half the country's work force, they account for
only 22 % of scientists and engineers. Among the
reasons that account for this phenomenon, education experts
say that some teachers
girls in subtle ways like for instance failing to call on them
in class as frequently as they call on boys. Ann Clarke, the
Julia Morgan's School's director and veteran educator
that boys and girls are very different in the way they approach
classroom
and problems. "Sometimes the boys are quicker to want to
get to the answer"- she says. "There's a different
energy around girls. Boys do more things in spurts". Proponents
of
education say that in a single-sex environment girls receive
encouragement for what they do rather for how they
. In places
as Julia Morgan's School for girls, students are encouraged
to take a turn at the blackboard, explain how they arrived at
the answer to a
problem, discuss lively and cooperate in groupwork. Besides,
these all-girls schools are well-equipped with the latest computer
resources. A lot of the girls have similar facilities at home
or, if they don't, the school welcomes donations from well-wishers
for them. Old computers given to schools as gifts can also be
used by students to take all the pieces apart to see how the
works. Moreover curriculums in these schools place emphasis
on collaborative learning approaches, programming courses, science,
maths, technology and they
include languages, sports, drama or, even, yoga. Some successes
are undeniable. "Castilleja", a girls' school in Palo
Alto (California) took 1st and 3rd place in the robotics competition
at Nasa's Ames Research Center. There are also low-key successes
like "the engineering night for parents" at the Girls' Middle
School.
that evening students show off the bridges and roads they have
constructed and they have a blast explaining science to adults.
, it is not clear that single-sex education is itself the solution.
Some experts say that in order to make girls
in maths, science and technology, one needs to improve
teaching methods. Professor Marcia Linn, from the University
of California at Berkeley is in favour
making teaching methods change so that they become effective
for everyone: boys and girls. The key to success seems to be
making science personally relevant to students' life day after
day. Maybe families themselves can make their
contribution in achieving sex equity.