[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ENDING GENDER BIAS IN THE CLASSROOM

                                 ______


                        HON. PATRICIA SCHROEDER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 11, 1995

  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Women's 
College Coalition and the Ad Council for launching the first-ever 
public service campaign promoting girls' achievement in school. In 
light of recent cutbacks in programs that encourage gender equity in 
the classroom, such as the elimination of programs administered by the 
Women's Educational Equity Act, it is becoming increasingly important 
for groups such as these to pick up where we, as legislators, have left 
off.
  The campaign's call to action, ``Expect the best from a girl and 
that's what you'll get,'' should soon become as familiar as other 
slogans the Ad Council has coined, such as ``take a bite out of crime'' 
and ``a mind is a terrible thing to waste.'' The campaign features four 
real-life role models for girls who tell their stories of personal 
achievement via television, radio, and print ads and promote public 
awareness of the gender bias against girls. The ads urge teachers, 
parents, and adolescent girls to get involved in the sciences and math, 
the basis for the careers of tomorrow. And they tell girls that it's 
cool to speak up in class. They call on parents to buy their daughters 
chemistry sets instead of tea sets.
  I commend these two groups for investing in the development of 
tomorrow's leaders and for showing such a strong dedication towards 
achieving equality.

                          ____________________