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College & Workforce Readiness Opinion

Eastern Illinois University Grapples With the Gender Gaps

By Richard Whitmire — February 18, 2010 1 min read
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Why, asks the campus reporter, do these gender gaps exist?

What strikes me is how little the education professors there have even thought about the question. Their speculations weren’t rooted in the reality that this is a relatively recent phenomenon. That’s because there’s no real national research to guide anyone on this issue.

Yesterday, a book reviewer from The Washington Times suggested that my call for the DOE to step in with national research was a sign I had been in Washington too long. Perhaps, but I saw a federal investigation in Australia trigger some productive changes. Until U.S. educators have a solid grasp of what’s actually taking place nothing will change.

Will Obama/Duncan do it? My guess is not. That would be one bold reform over the line. Why take on your core supporters -- the national groups advocating for women’s issue -- at a time when your political approval numbes are flagging?

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