How Schools Shortchange Girls

The Wellesley College Center for Research on Women researched gender bias in United States schools and came up with a detailed analysis of how gender-insensitive curriculum, testing and policies handicap girls. Covering 20 years of research on girls in preschool through the 12th grade, the report documents the effects of gender inequities not only on the college-bound but on girls in vocational programs and teen mothers as well. It concludes with 40 sensible, straightforward recommendations for changing schools, like encouraging young mothers to stay in school or choosing programs that do not perpetuate gender stereotypes.The AAUW already released this report but hopes to reach a wider audience by publishing it in this slim volume. Deborah Tannen's endorsement will help, but lack of overarching authorship or voice gives the book a bland, clinical, by-committee style. Unfortunately, individual human subjects are conspicuously absent, as well, so readers end up with numbers, charts and laws filling their heads, rather than the girls who are the purpose of the study. Although a must for educators and researchers, How Schools Shortchange Girls lacks popular appeal. (July)