1975-01-27-SC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 23 January 27, 1975 The school committee received a report from the CH 622 Committee entitled ":Sex Inegnality'in. Lexington Schools 1973-1974". Those who CH 622 REPORT worked on the committee were: Jane Crawford, Philip Crosby, Liz Haines, Georgia Glick, Patricia Hadley, Ethel Heins, Sheila Clemon Karp, Ellen H. Karin, Paul Lombard, Daniel Moegelin, Dorothy O'Connor and Athena Theodore. Mrs. Berchtold summarized the reasons the committee was formed in March and the information it was asked to include in the report. She gave a vote of thanks to Diane Lund who inspired the charge initially and added the report was quite thorough and offered a number of concrete suggestions. - Chairman Elizabeth Haines was introduced and proceeded to review the contents which covered 51 pages. Specific findings - Despite sporadic efforts to confront the problem of sex discrimination and sexism in the town's schools, there has been no system wide attempt to change those existing policies and practices which affect the educational experiences • and opportunities of girls and boys, either through administrative efforts or through administrative efforts or through Continuing Curriculum Committees. In addition, although Lexington has extensive computer service and other resources to assist in providing information and defining dimensions of the problems concerning differential treatment of girls and to ys, data are not collected in any systematic way according to the sex distribution of the students, nor are supplemental tables by sex of students attached to the school budget. Mrs, Haines continued to discuss sex imbalances in the professional staff, sports, practical arts programs, high school curriculum, non athletic curricular activities, etc. She described the difference between girls and boys with respect to the educational services and treatment they receive in the Lexington school system. The recommendation of the committee was to select a continuing advisory committee (by the school committee) to develop an Affirmative Action Plan, make revisions whenever necessary, and monitor its implementation according to available guidelines provided by state and federal agencies and in cooperation with the advisory councils designated by the state's Department of Education to help schools implement Ch 622. Regarding the establishment of such a committee, other suggestions to consider would be for representatives on a rotating basis from among teachers, administrators, students and community groups, a budget to cover expenses, a feeling of independence, use of the computer and personnel resources. The advisory committee should continue indefinitely until mutual agreement is reached with the school committee that its work has been accomplished. Specific recommendations were then discussed covering sex discrimination laws,. data, in-service training, summer workshops, staff, extra curricula sports, physical education, etc.