Will fostering positive self-esteem and creating awareness of gender issues improve student performance, especially in math?
” It became obvious that staff members and others in the teaching profession needed to be educated on the power of societal beliefs towards gender issues. In order to get a handle on how to approach colleagues effectively, Diane and I spent some time with Bob Ogilvie, Intermediate Teacher Consultant with the Grand Erie District School Board. Acting the role of critical friend, Bob was instrumental in helping us to see that we were working in an effective way with staff members by discussing our research, asking them to take part whenever possible, and asking for their feedback. He made the point that we didn’t want to “overdo it” and be too forceful because this would push attitudes in the opposite direction. We encouraged those staff members who were interested to continue to be aware of gender issues in the classroom and strive for equality during classroom discussion, activities, and when assigning “odd jobs”. Many girls were now being asked to stack chairs, dig sand pits, and move
