Review the Novels Used by Your English Teachers

The obvious issue here which comes to mind is to ensure that there is a 50/50 split between male and female authors, but honestly this goal is aspirational to start with. The initial goal is to put a stop to any further harm.  To begin, audit all books used as novel unit mentor texts, and identify any which feature oppression of girls and women.  Themes of oppression against ANY historically marginalized group  should be discussed as a team to ensure they are being taught through a lens of oppression, so as not to inadvertently uphold the oppression in our classrooms. Keep these important concepts in mind: Some books are written with the purpose in mind to highlight oppression, and are therefore an easier lift for the teacher–but all teachers still must do the oppression justice in the classroom, and be very comfortable holding these sacred discussions. Other books casually uphold the oppression of girls and women, and it can often be VERY difficult to call it out, and address it bravely.  These CAN be excellent teachable moments–but they’ve got to be handled well and with care.

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Review Site Level/District Gender Enrollment Data

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Survey the Students