CNN: Why do Girls Lose Interest in Math and Science?

[AJunx]

Hello All,

Today, I gave Secretary Spellings' office a call to ask some questions and bring up the topic of FIRST.

The person I spoke with was helpful, he instructed me to write a letter to Secretary Spellings so as to ensure that I would receive a response. I will be writing a letter addressed to Ms Spellings tomorrow, but you know what? I don't think one letter is quite enough.

This is the deal, Dean gave us homework, and here is a great opportunity to get the Secretary of the Department of Education on the FIRST bandwagon. I shall request that everyone, and particularly the girls participating on FIRST teams, do the following:

1) Call Secretary Spellings' Office at (202) 401-3000. When someone picks up, say something like this:

"Hello, my name is __________, and I would like to speak to Secretary Spellings regarding her recent comments on girls losing interest in math and science. I take part in FIRST robotics and I want to impress upon the secretary what a great tool it is for getting girls [and boys too] interested in math and science. I also want to know what the Secretary is doing in the way of supporting FIRST robotics.

2) When the person on the other end suggests that you write a letter, write a letter, it will cost you less than a dollar (or you can fax it) and it could result in increased support of FIRST by the Department of Education. In your letter, tell the Secretary how important FIRST is and tell her about your experience.

3) E-mail Secretary Spellings and make sure "F.I.R.S.T. Robotics" is in the title.


Secretary Margaret Spellings contact info:

+ phone: (202) 401-3000
+ fax: (202) 401-0596 (fax your letter if you can)

+ e-mail: Margaret.Spellings@ed.gov
(e-mail a copy to her secretary @ Christina.Wilson@ed.gov)

+ mailing address: 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202


-Andrew

[Robyn Needel]

Part of giving girls self-confidence has to come from their role models (both women and men!) telling the girls that boyfriends are great but shouldn't influence their life decisions. I know too many girls who choose to act dumb so that boys will like them and it gets me really frustrated. We need to let girls know that they should feel comfortable in their own choices, that worthwhile boyfriends and partners should be supportive in their lives, not put them down for following their dreams.

I plan to write to Secretary Spellman tomorrow and explain that I mentor some wonderful girls who are choosing to pursue science and technology careers as a result of their involvement in FIRST - I think it's a great idea if everyone on Chief Delphi writes in to talk about how FIRST is changing the culture of women in our world today.

Robyn