Freedom Flyer 30

Girls in sports under review

The issue sparked a heated debate at a London board of education committee meeting on Tuesday.

By Norman De Bono
Free Press Education Reporter

Now that he's in high school, Ken loves playing football.

But Susie's standing on the sidelines - choosing to opt out of sports.

Is this subtle discrimination or just personal choice?

And if a school tries to keep young women in sports, do they risk crossing the line from educators to becoming gender issues police?

The London board of education is forming an advisory committee to promote gender equity in physical and health education in school - including intramural activities - as concern is growing as to the number of girls dropping out of high school sports.

HEATED DISCUSSION: But the committee's role prompted a heated discussion at a board committee meeting on Tuesday.

Trustee Robert Vaughan questioned the group's work, saying it is "peculiar" the board would attempt to form an advisory committee to try to alter "free choice and personal values."

"Why is this important? It is not the school's business to socially engineer values," said Vaughan. But Linda Findley, a program supervisor at the board, believes free choice is not the issue. Research overwhelmingly shows young women are socially conditioned to opt out of sports beginning at about 13 years of age and it is a teacher's role to tell young women they can remain physically active, she said.

"Girls don't believe in themselves and we have to tell them they can do it," said Findley.

The committee will research gender equity in sports and come up with a plan to aid youths, including offering role models, posters, getting more women coaches in schools and ensur- ing equity in programs.

It may even touch on making coaches sensitive to demands on young women's time, like babysitting, that young men do not have and altering practice times to compensate, said Findley.

In a study, the Canadian Association For the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Education reported data showing young women suddenly dropping out of sports:

From the ages of 10 to 14, 49 per cent of females are physically active in school versus 72 per cent of males.

By the age of 12, girls' involvement begins to decline steadily until it is at only 11 per cent.

Perhaps most disturbing of all, at six years old, both boys and girls believe boys are better at sports. This is not true, as girls are as strong if not stronger than boys until puberty.

"We hope to educate and by doing so, come to grips with what girls are grappling with," said Findley.

The committee will not encourage young women to play football or hockey, but simply wants to empower them to remain physically active, be it in an organized sport or hiking and swimming.

"We just want them to remain involved in any kind of fltness event," said Findley.

But Vaughan questioned if this is the job of the school board - especiafly at a time of dwindling resources and more public questioning of its role. He believes the board should not look at this as a gender issue, but support more physical involvement for boys and girls. Also, the school board does not discriminate in offering access to sports. "What is at issue here is getting all students involved in sports regardless of gender," he said,

FOOTBALL: The answer may be a simple as "maybe some girls don't want their teeth kicked out in football," said Vaughan.

"It is not a gender equity issue. If the board discriminates I will take action against that. But in absence of fact showing discrimination, I will oppose this."

But Findley said the work of the committee will be subtle encouragement and self esteem building and that is the role of educators. "We hope to make girls aware and encourage them to do whatever they want," she said.