Keeping Girls Hooked On Science

By Susan Coney

Experts agree that the need for science and technology education in this fast paced, technology-driven world is more crucial than ever before. So why are so many girls dropping out of science-related fields by high school?

According to Assistant Superintendent of Schools Alice Jackson, there may be several reasons why girls lose interest in the science field by high school.

“In the middle school we see the girls are doing real, real well in math and science, and then they begin to pull back, maybe because they don’t want to look too smart,” said Ms Jackson. “We don’t know if that’s a developmental or social thing, but we are monitoring it closely. Of course we do have our real science superstars.

 “When I was in high school I wanted to take electronics and physics and couldn’t because I was a girl. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a way to go. Girls need to be exposed to and see what’s out there. They need to see the science fields as an option and make it viable for them,” she stressed.

“It is important for girls to be exposed to science and math as potential careers. That’s why we are trying to balance the science program so it has interest to girls all along. You see that in the hands-on science kits, which are actual experiments the students are using in all the grade levels. Right now, in second grade the students are using soil kits to determine which types of soil holds the most moisture,” she explained.

The Women’s College Coalition (WCC), based in Washington, D.C., reports that parents, rather than peers or the media, have the greatest influence on their daughters’ career choices. The coalition states that mothers and fathers are crucial in encouraging science exploration.

According to WCC, women who choose nontraditional careers such as those in science, math and computer programming reap big rewards and can expect to have lifetime earnings that are 150 percent over what women who choose traditional careers can expect to earn. The coalition goes on to say if present trends continue and girls are not encouraged to take math, science, and computer programming, their skills will be limited, confining them to the lower end pay scale.

The Women’s College Coalition encourages parents to take an active interest in getting their daughters hooked on science. The coalition stresses the importance of math, science, and technical classes to help students learn problem solving and independent thinking, which in turn helps to build personal confidence and competence.

The coalition stresses the need to engage girls in projects, activities, and workshops where they encounter opportunities to tinker with a chemistry set, build a robot, or tune in to the many new technologies available today.

Girl Scout Troop 78 from Reed Intermediate School had an occasion to do just that when Newtown resident Laurie Borst visited with the troop recently to tell the girls about the many fields of science open for study. Ms Borst has a background in environmental science, biology and education.

“I went in as a culminating event to talk to the girls about opportunities in science, careers in science, and women in science,” Ms Borst said.

In working toward earning their Science Badge the girls had been exploring different areas of science and working with younger students doing mini science workshops.

Ms Borst told the Scouts about the many different types of scientists.

“I touched on doctors, astronauts, pharmacists, astronomers; a lot came from the girls who had parents in science-related fields. They contributed a lot in the course the discussion took,” she said.

Ms Borst also explained about the struggles some women in the past faced in trying to be accepted as scientists.

“In particular I told the girls about Beatrix Potter. Everyone knows who she is for her many children’s storybooks such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” said Mrs Borst, who went on to explain that Ms Potter was an extremely talented scientist who studied botany, entomology, geology, and paleontology; but her favorite subject was mycology, the study of fungi.

Ms Potter drew detailed drawings of all types of mushroom and fungi; however no one paid attention to her work as a scientist and she turned to writing and illustrating children’s books.

WCC urges parents to oversee the selection of their daughters’ course offerings in middle school and high school. They state that the sophomore year is a key decisionmaking time where girls are opting out of science, math, and technology courses.

Newtown High School offers a wide range of science, math and technology courses, and recently added a new course entitled the Applied Science Research Program, under the direction of Frank LaBanca. This is a high level science course in which students choose independent scientific research in an area of their choice.

Mr LaBanca provides resources in the surrounding community for the students to do valid, in-depth research. The students then present the results of their findings at an applied science research symposium in the high school’s lecture hall. Some students find they can use their research to help add to their college resume and to assist in obtaining college scholarships.