THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407140180
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 53 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BARCO LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
A PUBLIC service announcement to be aired this fall on a local cable access channel shows a male interviewer talking to two job applicants. One's a well-poised and confident woman; the other a somewhat unprofessional man.
Once the woman leaves the room, the employer turns to the gentleman and says, ``Even though she is more qualified, I think you are the man for the job.''
The scene is followed by a plea for equal treatment among the sexes. It was created by Currituck County High School students who, thanks to a summer enrichment program on gender bias, now know better.
``Our main purpose is to increase the students' awareness of nontraditional education and career choices,'' said Paul O'Briant, director of the Currituck High Gender Equity Program. ``And to help them be successful if they make one of these choices.
``Fairness is the bottom-line issue in this program.''
The four-week program, one of 19 statewide, ended this week after introducing 29 students to potential careers in such areas as electronics, carpentry, food service, health occupations and video production.
Perquimans County High School has a similar program called Pioneering Success held throughout the year. About 30 students, mainly freshmen, enroll annually, said Anne White, co-director of the Perquimans program.
``In our school, we have an underrepresentation of males in health occupations class and an underrepresentation of females in electronics and technology classes,'' White said.
As O'Briant explained, ``The purpose of our programs is not to blur all distinctions between male and female and promote androgyny.
``Obviously there are differences between male and female. Hallelujah! The difference is in opportunity - and everyone should have an opportunity.''
Alisha Etheridge, 15, was one of the students to take advantage of the summer program. Like others, she dabbled in various fields and discovered that she enjoyed carpentry.
``At first I was scared I would cut my finger off,'' the sophomore said. ``At first I wasn't interested, but now it's OK. I would do it in my spare time.''
Junior Rash Lindsey, 16, learned to cook in a food service class - something he said he hasn't seen many men do. Now he likes to prepare fondue and make his favorite dish, Chinese rice.
Etheridge and Lindsey worked last week with classmate Kimberli Hughes, a 13-year-old freshman, on a video promoting male nurses.
``Three years ago, all we had is electronics. Last year we expanded to electronics, health occupations and automotive,'' O'Briant said. ``And then this year we have eight areas.''
A big chore, he added, is luring students back to school for the summer. One incentive is a half-credit for program completion.
Another challenge is getting some of these studetns to enroll in nontraditional courses in the upcoming years. In this area, Currituck County appears to be doing better than a lot of other schools.
Since Currituck High School's 1991-92 school year, male enrollment in health occupations has risen 85 percent. Female electronics students increased 100 percent in the past two years, O'Briant said.
Statewide, schools with gender equity programs have seen little change in enrollments, he added.
Students aren't the only ones learning a thing or two.
Don Greene is now in his second year of teaching carpentry to Gender Equity Program students.
``I'll defy anyone in this class to tell the difference between the boys' projects and the girls' projects,'' said Greene as he looked upon a new batch of summer students making coat racks.
Admitting that he's perceived as a chauvinist and ``macho man,'' Greene said he expected his female students to like woodworking. ``But I have been a little bit surprised at how well they have done,'' he added.
``My goal this summer, if I could, is to get one good girl student to take carpentry next time.''
O'Briant's goals include expanding the program to include staff development on gender bias, such as is done in Perquimans.
``These kids, for the most part, understand the fairness issue when it's presented to them,'' the former electronics teacher said. ``But historically it hasn't been presented to them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Decorrey Baily, 13, of Currituck County High School, cuts a coat
rack with a power jigsaw as part of a gender equity program.
by CNB