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Original poster

School houses

38 replies

flossyfloss · 03/09/2017 12:57

Hi everyone,

First time I've posted in this area but I do read lots! I remember a post from a couple of months ago about a mum who's daughter was starting a brand new school and the school houses were all named after historic male figures.

My daughter starts high school tomorrow and has been set homework to research the person her house is named after, it is a man, all houses are historic engineers - I've checked all the other houses and low and behold all men.

It's got me angry and I think I want to raise it with the school. What do you all think?

I wonder if it's been pointed out to them before? I suspect not. I want my daughter to grow up knowing there are female figures in history that she can aspire to. I'm half tempted to get her to research a female engineer and add that as extra to her homework Wink

OP posts:
EBearhug · 03/09/2017 17:52

Our school houses were all named after places, thus avoiding the issue, but I suspect that as it was an all girls school, they'd have probably managed to find a list of influential female role models.

If I were naming houses, I'd have Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, Hedy Lamarr, Steve (Stephanie) Shirley and Wendy Hall, all from computing.

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2017 17:45

Not everyone has those advantages of role models. And there are enough threads on MN to demonstrate that schools actively discourage girls towards engineering/science subjects.

Fekko · 03/09/2017 17:39

Coming from a family of engineers, and now offer working with engineers - I've not really thought about the person, just the project.

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2017 17:37

I think Manwhohasitall needs to come to the rescue: hilarious

I'd have a chat with her form teacher - in passing - if you can do that at high school. Mine are both at primary! Or perhaps a settling in meeting (if they have them)? And just bring it in to the conversation about how it would be nice to include female engineers. Not make a massive deal about it but a little reminder that women do/have done things too!

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 03/09/2017 17:24

My childrens school was scientists

It had one female and three male

Now its earth wind water and fire Hmm

Apparently the children voted and picked it...i call bollocks on that one

Fekko · 03/09/2017 16:06

DSs are names after famous ex pupils and before that explorers. My primary school was mountains and I really can't remember secondary school

ZeroFuchsGiven · 03/09/2017 16:04

I really think it depends on where the school is based tbh. I am in Lincolnshire and the houses are based on local history or relevance to the area.

For example the houses in the local high school are Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane which are all ww2 planes.

Does your area have any history with engineering?

Fekko · 03/09/2017 16:03

I guess they were the main engineers people thought I'd rather than pure gender bias. I doubt many could name half a dozen engineers male or female.

Original poster
flossyfloss · 03/09/2017 15:59

Thanks for the replies, all the houses are named after male engineers in historyHmm

I am going to suggest she adds in something about female engineers to her homework piece!

OP posts:
KickAssAngel · 03/09/2017 14:11

It's about time that history stopped being about white men.

People grow up hearing a lifetime of stories about what the white men have done that's big and important. Schools should be working to redress that balance.

Childrenofthestones · 03/09/2017 13:32

If it makes you feel any better it's not all one way.
My 14yr old daughter in a mixed school is studying World War II in history and the three subjects they were asked to write about where -
1 Women pilots
2 Women spies
3 The home front.👍

Fekko · 03/09/2017 13:04

www.iveyengineering.com/famous-female-engineers/

Hedy Lamarr. Yup, an engineer.

Fekko · 03/09/2017 13:00

If I were doing the homework I'd do it as asked but also add some female engineers too for good measure. There will be loads more male than female engineers anyway - and I find engineering fascinating anyway so the maleness wouldn't bother me.

Who else are the houses names after - artists, singers, dancers?

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