“It was because of the boys”

My alma mater has started to segregate classes. Apparently Mr. Boarman thinks that the reason that intelligent women choose not to enroll in computer science classes is because they are intimidated by boys.

What happened to good ol’ fashioned lack of interest?

While I believe that there is some truth to the claims in the article, that many women are intimidated by men in computer science, it is also true of women in ALL sciences. NCSSM is a school for dorks like me who, despite their gender, have a genuine interest in math and science. Its a place where you’re supposed to feel challenged, you’re supposed to feel dumb sometimes, because you know that in the end, you’ll be much more prepared for college and beyond than your home school classmates. If these women who supposedly have an interest in computer science can’t handle being in a male-dominated high school course, how on earth are they going to handle being in the real world, where it will be very possible that they’ll be the only females employed? What are they going to do if they decide to major in CS down the road? Will they expect accomodations for it once they go to UNC or wherever? Unless this class intends to teach skills that will allow them to adjust in the real world, it is not going to help them once they break out of the flaming diaper.

Why don’t they also have segregated art classes for people who aren’t good at it? If I could’ve enrolled in Ceramics for Dummies, I wouldn’t have felt so embarrassed about showing my work at the end of the semester. Heck, the SOLE REASON that I’m not majoring in ceramics RIGHT NOW is because I was intimidated by all of the artsy fartsy people at NCSSM.

This may sound odd coming from an NCSSM alum who went on to a single sex school, but if I had the choice between enrolling in the NC School of Science and Math and the NC School of Science and Math for women, I would have chosen the former in a heartbeat.

Harriet Miers nominated to replace Justice O’Connor

And the republicans are in an uproar? This can’t be good.

Apparently, democrats placed her on the “no filibuster” list. In fact, it was allegedly Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid who ‘urged the administration to consider’ Miers. Which means Pres. Bush is trying to avoid a fight.

From the Dep’t of State:

“President Bush on November 17 named Harriet Miers as White House counsel, a position she will hold upon the Senate confirmation of Alberto Gonzales current White House counsel — as U.S. Attorney General. Most recently, Miers served as Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary. Prior to that, she was Co-Managing Partner at Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP. Previously, she was President of Locke, Purnell, Rain & Harrell, where she worked from 1972 until 1999. From 1995 until 2000, she was chair of the Texas Lottery Commission. In 1992, Harriet became the first woman president of the Texas State Bar, and in 1985 she became the first woman president of the Dallas Bar Association. She also served as a Member-At-Large on the Dallas City Council. Harriet received both her undergraduate and law degrees from Southern Methodist University.”

We’ll see how this turns out. She could be a good pick. I’ll leave it to the political buffs to pull out everything that is known about her at lightning speed.