Thirty years ago, when Myra and I first began to research gender bias, we thought that the task was pretty straightforward. First we would objectively analyze schools to see if bias really existed. If we found bias, we would document the inequities and work on solutions. We thought that armed with knowledge, people would want to change. Not so simple.
Educational equity is now a political issue.
Not satisfied with attacking research, they also question the integrity and motivations of the researchers. A new day requires new tactics. I regret the ultimate cost of such tactics may have on the lives of children. Individual educators, teachers and administrators, can insure that instructional strategies and curricular innovations benefit all our children. Twenty-five years after Title IX, it is time for us to celebrate our progress, and recommit ourselves to finishing the job.