We need to #stayhomestaysafe, but the last week brought us some good news. Much of it is thanks to the women leading us through this crisis. It may be some time before we return to some semblance of normal, or we may have to forge a new normal post-pandemic. Either way, women have and will continue to lead their constituents with sense, science, and grace.
Read MoreCheck back here for twice-monthly updates from AEC! We will provide you with content about current events, tips and resources, and new strategies to try in your districts, schools, and classrooms. To view ongoing and past blog series, click on the links below.
The first day of school is one of my favorite days of the year—it feels like the new year. I make lists, buy new supplies, and cheerily greet my colleagues in the hallway by chirping, “How was your summer?” This day feels full of the same possibility and promise. As on so many first days of school before (somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty of them, counting my days as both student and as teacher), I picked a first-day-of-school outfit. However, my role as a junior faculty member at a university has changed the way I choose clothing. I chose a dress in a dark color—nothing too flashy. The neckline was high and the hemline was low. I wore a cardigan to cover most of my tattoos. I wore my hair up and pinned back, wore glasses while I usually wear contacts, and wore small pearl stud earrings—all of which were an effort to communicate that I could and should be taken seriously. For purposes of comparison, I noticed that two of my male colleagues wore jeans to teach graduate students on the first night of classes.
Read MoreAs we wrap the school year and reflect on the previous year, we’ve been thinking about the ways in which gender equity really matters in education. Gender equity is not just a “nice to have” or a bonus category - it is essential to the function of schools and to the safety and flourishing of the people who work and learn within them.
Read MoreThis will be my last of the argument series for a while. I have enjoyed writing it and I’m sure that I will continue to reference this series and engage many of the same topics in future blogs. For my last argument, I’m going to take on a very specific issue. Recently, student dress codes have been all over the news. So, let’s argue about them!
Read MoreThis week’s blog is a little bit of a departure for me, topic-wise, but it is something that I feel like we really have to talk about. Rarely a day goes by that I or one of my friends don’t lament a man explaining something to us that we already understand. The worst part is that these are men we like, respect, work with, or are married to! What are they doing? Don’t they realize how discouraging and demeaning this can be?
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