As a TA, how do I (or do I?) raise this with a teacher?

[dotdotdotmustdash]

Hello.

I'm a TA in a large state school. I have only been there since the beginning of the school year so I don't know all the teachers well, but I do enjoy it and find it supportive and friendly.

There is something that's been bugging me since I first started and I would like some advice on how to handle it. I attend a computing class once a week with a child. It's a tricky class for behaviour so I haven't talked to the teacher other than a hello and goodbye every week so I'm not sure if he's the person to mention this to.

On the wall in the classroom there is a large display of a project that a class has put a lot of work into. They have produced posters about women who were instrumental in the development of computing. The display is great, it's bright, colourful and full of information but they all have the same title, which I presume is the brief they were given.

I imagine if this had been a project about men they would have been called inventors, creators, pioneers or scientists or something similarly positive. Unfortunately the title of this project is 'DotComDivas'.

It's not a huge issue, but I really want to say something to someone about the casual sexism and point out that 'Diva' is a word with negative connotations. I even checked the dictionary definitions, and other than opera singers, the definitions are something along the lines of 'women who are demanding, spoiled or self-absorbed'.

I could mention it to my PT but he's very busy and I don't think he would take it anywhere. I don't know if this particular teacher even set the project (his name isn't on the door), I could mention it to the department head but I don't know her either and I don't want to be a stranger whose first contact is to criticise her department. Do I go to the very pleasant Head with his constantly-open door? I guess the sensible thing is just to leave it, but I suspect this is a project which is repeated with every year group class.

The school works really hard to promote STEM subjects in female pupils - it seems a shame to display something so contrary to their ethos.

I suspect the children themselves have come up with the title.

I'm glad you're such an expert on assessing education.

I going to return to Maisypops comment in a previous post as I'm slightly annoyed by it. Maisypops appears to be a teacher.

I trained for 4 years to be a nurse and I don't claim to be an expert in nursing. I'm more informed and educated than untrained people, but and expert? No.

If a patient, relative or care assistant mentioned to me that something I said or did was in any way offensive or belittling I would certainly listen to them and acknowledge it if it were true. I certainly wouldn't disregard them because they weren't 'experts'. Please don't assume that TAs who have spent many years in classrooms don't know what they're seeing or reading. Along with their own education, they also have life experience, parenting experience and common-sense. I support the teacher in their lesson planning and delivery but predominantly I'm there to support the pupil (we're actually not called TAs, but Pupil Support Assistants). I will not crawl back under my rock when I see teaching that is disrespectful or self-defeating.

In this case it isn't a big issue, but please don't devalue the teaching profession by being petulant and arrogant.

I suspect the children themselves have come up with the title.

Unfortunately I suspect this is not the case.

Do you have an alternative title you could recommend? In the spirit of receiving feedback, that would be my first question back to you. Especially if it is a project they repeat every year. This can be raised and managed professionally if everyone involved is genuinely looking to improve the project,
rather than simply criticise or defend it. Defences will come up if the teacher/head of feels criticised instead of supported. If you can think of an alternative, maybe they can include that as part of the next project. Along with a quick opportunity to have an open discussion about gender bias in STEM.

*cant
As in, if you can't think of a title, ask the kids to have a think and begin to understand the reasons why Diva might be negative.

Good question!

I'll certainly have a think about it. I've just had a look and 'Pioneers' is the word that's often used to describe these women.

Maybe 'Pioneer Princesses?'

I jest.

What would be perfect of course would be just to have a display about leaders in the field, with nothing pointing out that they are all women.

Otherwise, is there a word that denotes outstanding woman that isn't also used negatively?

I agree with OP and I’m a teacher. I would raise it with the HOD.

I agree Madonna, there really shouldn't be a need to highlight the women but I do see that they did it with good intentions.

I'm struggling to think of a strong and positive word for specifically female trail-blazers. That's sad, hopefully it's just my vocabulary that's lacking.

These are a bit crap but something to get started with:

Sisters of STEM
Women who built the Web

Digital Divas or Modern suffragettes? A woman's place in the construction of a digital world.

Bet the kids studying it could come up with some cracking titles!

Please don't assume that TAs who have spent many years in classrooms don't know what they're seeing or reading. Along with their own education, they also have life experience, parenting experience and common-sense.
I am not devaluing TAs at all.
I outlined specifically all the ways I have great relationships with TAs because I just knew your reply would be eeee nasty teacher doesn't like TAs.

I was a TA myself as part of my career change to teaching.

I put in a complaint about a teacher who devalued the work of one of my TA colleagues in a way that was wholly unprofessional.

However, that doesn't chanhe the fact that you havr decided the project was only partially successful because you don't like the title. The title on a display is no reflection on the learning which has taleb place and you deciding that ypu can comment on the effectiveness of the project off the back of a display is out of order.

please don't devalue the teaching profession by being petulant and arrogant
Not being petulant and arrogant at all.

I have an issue with people who think they can assess the quality of a project conpleted with students when they are not trained in assessing student progress and are basing their judgementa and whether to raise a non issue on the back of a personal opinion of something not related to pupil outcomes.