I showed this short video clip from the CBS nightly news to my Algebra 2 classes.  It’s only 3 minutes but if you don’t have time to watch, here’s the synopsis:


Four exceptional Kansas high school students who are smart, politically active and forward-thinking are running for governor of Kansas. The state’s constitution has no age — or other requirements — to run.  


What struck me about this clip was WHO these “smart, politically active and forward-thinking” students were:  all boys.  And so, I decided to show it in my classes as a way to continue to remind our girls that they have been socialized to be perfect while boys have been socialized to be brave.  


Something unexpected happened when I showed the video and the Sociology Major inside me is freaking out about it.  After showing the clip, I asked the students whey they thought I chose to show it to them.  I received many responses such as, “You want us to take chances.” and “You want us to reach for the stars” and “You want us to try new things.”  I pushed them more.  Why else might I have showed this to you?  More and more of the same but not one comment on the fact that they were all boys.  I couldn’t believe it!  They were so socialized to expect boys to take these types of risks, they didn’t even see it.  



When I told them I showed this to them because they were boys, there were many a-ha moments, like when you look at a magic-eye puzzle and the hidden image suddenly appears.  I told them that this clip made me mad, because I believed that girls are just as smart and innovative as boys (if not more so!).  I (again) encouraged them to go big, take risks, and that now is the time when they have a safety net under them to catch them when they fall.  None of those boys is going to win the governorship.  But, each of them will experience incredible growth throughout the process, not to mention a killer college essay.