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Gender Tales

Tensions in the Schools

• Edited by Judith S. Kleinfeld, Suzanne Yerian

• Price: $34.95
• Binding: Hardback
• Pages: 224
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 1st May 1995
• ISBN: 978-0-8058-8010-6

About the Book

A book of "real world" cases, this text introduces "flashpoint" issues related to gender equity in the schools. It immerses readers in the human dilemmas teachers face when they set out to provide equal opportunities for -- and to develop the abilities of -- all of their students. Each case, a true but disguised situation, presents the pedagogical concerns, ethical questions, competing values, and complexity of social change teachers face on a daily basis in their classrooms. These cases help readers to identify and understand ideas and issues by relating them to both their own and others' real-life experiences. The book includes activities and discussion questions to involve readers in critical thinking about the issues raised in the cases and in applying this knowledge to their own current or future classroom practice.

Using a casebook approach, the text is organized in five sections. Designed to help readers explore the issues raised by contextualizing them in stories that are authentic and engaging, it emphasizes the teacher's role as a skilled professional who thinks critically and makes decisions, and creates lively and involved class discussion by making room for students with diverse perspectives.

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface. Part I: The Meaning of Gender Equality in the Schools. B. Weikel, "Girlspeak" and "Boyspeak": Gender Differences in Classroom Discussion. J. Skolnick, A Rare Commodity. D. Reynolds, The Teacher Who Knew Too Much. S. Yerian, Jane, the Reluctant Mathlete. S. Wassermann, Her Work Is Not Scholarly! J.S. Kleinfeld, Girls on the Wrestling Team: A Community Fight. J.S. Kleinfeld, The Venerable Tradition of Separate-Sex Schooling. Part II: Increasing Achievement Among Young Women. Gender Equity Project Teachers, The Square Parachute: Science in Gender-Mixed Groups. B. McKinny, Burn Schools to the Ground. B. Weikel, S. Yerian, Tough Anna. R. Silverman, W.M. Welty, S. Lyon, Diane News: The Choice, From Case Studies for Teacher Problem Solving. J. Shulman, A. Mesa-Bains, Opening Pandora's Box: The Mystery Behind an "Ideal Student," From Diversity in the Classroom. R. Kleinfeld, Going to the Oracle: Susan Consults the "Big Feminist." S. Yerian, B. Weikel, You'll Be Washing Dishes. Part III: Establishing Professional Standing for Female Teachers. J. Skolnick, Diane: Gender, Culture, and a Crisis of Classroom Control. Gender Equity Project Teachers, Patsy: The Hunt for the Golden Egg. A. Hansen, The Day the Heat Went On, From Harvard Business School Case Series. Gender Equity Project Teachers, The Alliance. Part IV: Sexual Harassment in the Schools. J.S. Kleinfeld, The Boys on the Bus: Bad Language or Sexual Harassment? E. Miller, Lisa's Complaint. S.S. Wineburg, When Good Intentions Aren't Enough. T. Bliss, Who Is the Victim? Part V: Sexual Slurs, Sexual Stereotyping, and the Marketplace of Ideas. P. Finley, "T" Is for T-shirt...and Take It to Court. I. Macneil, Jockeying for Position: The Battle Over Classroom Speech. J. Martin, The Girls at Central -- They Sure Got Nice Behinds. P. Hutchings, March in Minneapolis.