From the Principal's Desk
Dear Members of the CHS Community:
A few months ago, I watched a segment on 60 Minutes about the shortage of women pursuing careers in technology that really caught my attention. As a career educator and father of a teenage daughter, I was startled to learn just how acute the disparity is when it comes to the number of young women majoring in computer science. At a time when Amazon is opening a new headquarters in Northern Virginia that will necessitate the hiring of 25,000 people with backgrounds in computer science/technology, the number of women majoring in computer science is declining. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that women only earn 18 percent of all bachelor’s degrees in computer science awarded by American universities, down from a high of 34 percent in 1984. At a time when policymakers and leaders in business and government are doing everything they can to address the current and predicted shortage of workers in the tech industry, fewer and fewer young women are choosing to enter a profession that is among the most promising and lucrative. Why? The article below provides some possible answers as to how educator attitudes may be impacting the career choices of female students. My own hunch is that parents may also unwittingly convey similar messages to their daughters, and reading this article made me reflect about how I may be shaping my daughter’s perceptions about careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Have a good weekend,
Scott
Attitudes That Steer Young Women Away from STEM Careers
In this Wall Street Journal article, engineering professor Barbara Oakley (Oakland University, MI) says one reason that relatively few women end up working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is the unthinking and uninformed vibe conveyed by many undergraduate humanities and social sciences instructors [and perhaps by some K-12 educators?]. “Professors have profound influence over students’ career choices,” says Oakley. “I’m sometimes flabbergasted at the level of bias and antagonism toward STEM from professors outside scientific fields. I’ve heard it all: STEM is only for those who enjoy ‘rote’ work. Engineering is not creative. There’s only one right answer. You’ll live your life in a cubicle. It’s dehumanizing. You’ll never talk to anyone. And, of course, it’s sexist… With joking asides during class or more-pointed conversations about careers, the STEM disciplines are caricatured as a gulag for creative types.”
Grades can also play a part, and women tend to do better in non-technical subjects. If a young woman is getting an A in English and a C in calculus, she’s more likely to become an English major – especially if the English professors recruit her by bad-mouthing STEM careers. What a shame, says Oakley, because technical fields “can be among the most creative and satisfying disciplines.”
But what about sexism in the STEM workplace? Actually, says Oakley, “Jerks exist in every workplace,” with an almost perfect Venn-diagram overlap of jerks and sexists. Take nursing, where studies have documented pervasive bullying; a 2015 study found the full spectrum “from eye-rolling and exclusion to humiliation, withholding information, scapegoating, intimidation, and backstabbing.”
“I have experienced bias in my career,” concludes Oakley, “but I also would not be where I am today without the strong support of many wonderful men. Women are vitally important to STEM… And it’s time for everyone to step back, take a breath, and acknowledge that good and bad bosses and co-workers exist everywhere.”
“Why Do Women Shun STEM? It’s Complicated” by Barbara Oakley in The Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2018, https://www.facebook.com/WSJOpinion/posts/951990394981435; Oakley can be reached at oakley@oakland.edu.
Korean Exchange
Chantilly High School, with support from the Fairfax County Public Schools and the South Korean Ministry of Education, has a partnership With Sangwon High School located in Daegu, South Korea. Chantilly High School students have a unique opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange program with international education students from Sangwon High School.
We are seeking 6 families from the Chantilly community who are each willing to host two Sangwon High School students in their homes from January 15-21, 2020. In exchange, the selected Chantilly host students will travel to Daegu, South Korea during the week of Spring Break April 2-13, 2020.
The cost to Chantilly students, who are selected, will be approximately $1,100 (An estimated value of well over $3,000). Please contact Tim O’Reilly by email tporeilly@fcps.edu for more information!
Food Delivery for Students
FCPS maintains a policy of no food delivery from outside vendors, for students during the school day, 8:10am - 2:55pm. Any items (lunches, homework, laptops) dropped off for students will now be left on a cart in the main office for student pickup. If you drop off an item for your student, please let your student know that they should check the cart to retrieve it. (Laptops will be in room 209 for pickup.) Please use caution when leaving valuables, as the school cannot be responsible for lost or missing items. Thanks so much for your cooperation.
Training for School Health Room Volunteers
Parents--are you interested in volunteering in the school health room? Free training for volunteers will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, November 14 in the Herndon/Reston District Office of the Fairfax County Health Department, 1850 Cameron Glen Dr., Room 600-Multipurpose Room, Reston, VA 20190. Phone: 703-481-4242. No registration is required.
Calendar Reminder: November 4 and 5 Are Holidays for Students
As a reminder, schools will be closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher work day. Friday, November 1, is the last day of the first quarter. Classes will resume on Wednesday, November 6. See the complete 2019-20 school calendar.
Recognitions
Last weekend, Chantilly media attended the VHSL Media Championship in Harrisonburg.
The Purple Tide newsmagazine and Odyssey yearbook won Trophy Class. The Knightly News broadcast show and Andromeda literary arts magazine won First Class.
Chantilly journalists also won the following Multimedia Contest awards in newsmagazine and yearbook:
-1st Place in Newsmagazine Cover: Catherine Xu -3rd Place in Newsmagazine Cover: Priya Viswanathan, Kaitlyn Cheng, Rithika Ashok -2nd Place in Straight News/News Feature: Priya Viswanathan -2nd Place in Feature: In-Depth: Kaitlyn Cheng and Priya Viswanathan -1st Place in Advertising: Rithika Ashok -3rd Place in Advertising: Rachael Gunn -3rd Place in Concept Packaging, Sports Coverage, and Infographics/Secondary Packaging: Abby Lee, Angelina Daniel, Nia Hoq, Sahaana Sethu
Girls Cross Country
For the 2nd year in a row the girls team was crowned the Concorde District Champions (26 pts) . The boys ended their season with a 5th place finish (94 pts).
The following athletes earned All-District honors, and will compete at regionals on 11/7.
Momiji Barlow- 2nd (18:45)
Nyla Carter-Ogden- 3rd (19:03)
Elizabeth Wu- 6th (19:26)
Ruby Carter-Ogden- 7th (19:31)
Caroline Poole- 8th (19:32)
Keoni Puhek- 8th (16:11)
Adam Jaynes- 10th (16:14)
Julia Rodrigues- 9th (19:34)
Ava Miller- 11th (19:48)
Recent Student Successes
This is the next installment for the school year of what has become a weekly segment aimed at recognizing students for demonstrating recent improvement or achievement in academics, behavior or citizenship. At the end of each recognition, you will see the name of the nominating teacher or staff member. On a rotating basis, departments will nominate students. I plan to meet with recognized students each week to congratulate them in person.
-
Marjori Caceres Sanchez worked hard in World History 2 and Strategies for Success. She has shown perseverance in studying for her tests. She is really demonstrating a growth mindset towards history. Ms. Mary Catherine Keating
- I am impressed with Leah Daniel's enthusiasm in attending most (if not all) of the political candidate speeches this fall. She regularly debriefs me on her impression of each of the candidates, and critically analyzes their messages. Leah is a fantastic example of the type of informed and engaged citizen we seek to encourage in Government class! Mr. Keenan Goldsby
-
Keith Khan has a true passion for history. He can always be counted on to be very engaged, is always making great connections, and has a great sense of humor. Mr. Ross Bosse
-
Rushil Suresh has grown immensely in his abilities as an Advanced Placement Student. He shows innate curiosity and willingness to discuss challenging topics in AP US History. This has translated to his essay writing and higher test grades. Great Job Rushil! Mr. John Downes
|
