Women's Studies in High School

The following information about women's studies programs in high
schools appeared on WMST-L in October 2002.  For additional WMST-L
files available on the Web, see the WMST-L File Collection.

Joan and others on the list asked me to post responses to my query
regarding high school women's studies programs. I received two
responses, which I have copied below. I had many requests to share
this information, so if there is more out there, I think many on
the list would be interested in knowing it. The Two Responses: The
Atlanta Girls' School offers an "Introduction to Feminism" course
during their winterim semester (a mini semester between fall and
spring) and i do believe of all the schools within metro Atlanta
this school would be most willing to incorporate within their
curriculum some type of semi-women's studies program.

Ohio state women's studies program has an interface project with local high
shools.


--
Ellen G. Friedman
The College of New Jersey
Director, WomenÆs and Gender Studies Program
Professor of English

I missed one:
Sara Parmenter wrote: I've been teaching Women's Studies as a literature
elective for juniors/seniors in my high school in
Westland, Michigan (suburb of Detroit). We've had the
elective at our school the past 5 years. Her e-mail is sparmen  AT  yahoo.com

--
Ellen G. Friedman
The College of New Jersey
Director, WomenÆs and Gender Studies Program
Professor of English

I'm both surprised and curious about these responses.
Only two other secondary-level women's studies
classes?  Also, I'm very interested in what these
other programs teach; I'm always looking for new ideas
and would be most willing to share mine.  Please post
(off-list is fine, if you like) this information if
you have it.  Finally, a few years ago English Journal
(NCTE) focused an issue around gender; sorry I don't
have the exact year/volume, but one article detailed a
"Gender Bender" mini-class in high school.  I'll find
the citation info at home and send it.
Sara Parmenter
sparmen  AT  yahoo.com

I have been teaching Women's Studies for 3 years at Hutchison School in
Memphis, TN. I believe that we are the only institution in the South
(outside of Atlanta) that offers this course.
Hutchison is a private all girls school pre-K through 12th grade.

The course is a one semester survey of Women's studies from radical feminist
theory to conservative women's politics.  It is cross-curricular drawing on
many issues from women in sports to literature, history, business, arts,
religion, etc. My text was compiled from material offered through McGraw
Hill/Primus, but I am about to adopt another text for spring 2003. The
course is student driven--in that the student conduct the classes seminar
style contributing additional reading/viewing/listening material.
I facilitate and guide their work--and I grade them on weekly journals that
incorporate visual and written responses to class discussions.
At the end of each semester we have had a large visual project that has been
displayed in school.  2 years ago we modeled a Faith Ringgold quilt, last
year it was a banner project.  Overall, it has been a great success--but
there are always adjustments.

Hope this helps
Paula Barnes, PhD
Chair, History Dept
Hutchison School
Memphis, TN

Although I know nothing more than is listed below, the following is a
program being presented at the University of South Carolina (Columbia)
as part of the Women's Studies Research Series: "Taking it to the
Streets: Women's Studies in the High School Classroom" Mary
E. Styslinger, Ph.D., Department of Instruction and Teacher Education,
College of Education posted at
http://www.cla.sc.edu/WOST/program/events/reseries.html

You might want to track down Dr. Styslinger at USC to see what info
she may have - seems to be another Southern contact.

Betsy Eudey, PhD
Director, Center for Women's Studies and Programs
Horace C. Smith Bldg, Room 101
800 University Way,  Spartanburg, SC 29303
beudey  AT  gw.uscs.edu      www.uscs.edu/~women