Released 3/7/2005

What Women's History Means to the Lower School

What do chocolate chips, bulletproof vests, fire escapes and windshield wipers have in common?

Sara Adler, Head of Lower School, posed this question during a recent News assembly to grades Kindergarten through 3. She gave the girls a while to think about it and, after several guesses, one came up with the connection: All four were invented by women.

Ms. Adler used these examples, paired with a narrative about Marie Curie's landmark discoveries in science, to encourage the Lower School students to think further about women's contributions to the world. March is Women's History Month, an ideal time to reflect on women's accomplishments that have had an impact, whether great or small, on our time.

The Lower School students' assignment, if they chose to accept it, was to research an important woman and post information about her on a bulletin board outside Ms. Adler's office. The submissions, which are still coming in, draw attention to a wide range of women, including both well-known names and lesser-known figures.

"Clara Barton was important because she is the spirit of the American Red Cross," a Class 1 student wrote. "Joni Mitchell is a great songwriter. She wrote 'Big Yellow Taxi' in 1970," a classmate offered. A Class 2 student recounted this anecdote: "One day I was using White Out when I asked Ms. Crandall who invented it, and she said, 'Good question. Let's find out!' We Googled it and four out a woman by the name of Bette Nesmith Graham invented it." One Class 3 girl wrote about Sarah E. Goode, who created the folding cabinet bed. "It helps us save space for people living in small apartments to have a bed and a desk," the student wrote.

Ms. Adler's bulletin board also highlights some women's achievements that fall a bit closer to home. On a rectangular piece of paper is a message that says, "Miss Cappeto is a teacher. Her job is important because she helps kids learn. I think Miss Cappeto is great at her job!" Chapin's Lower School students have a grasp of an important dimension of women's history: We are creating the future of it now.