Engineering and Title IX--The NEA Gives an Opinion

I talked a few months ago about how some were hoping to expand the proportionality principles of Title IX to academic subjects like math and engineering. It worked to create a generation of female athletes, the argument goes, so why not to create a generation of female mathematics all-stars?

I don't see the sucess potential. Programs that introduce girls to the sciences and make them want to enter the STEM fields I have no problem with, but were Title IX to be applied to the academics the same way it has been to the athletics (e.g., "60% of your students overall are female, so your engineering students should be 60% female as well"), I think it would be a step back.

The NEA gave the issue their nod of support in the May 2008 NEA Today magazine. This isn't surprising for an organization that has made diversity one of their keystone issues, but I'm not sure they thought the argument all the way through.

For perspective from the other side, this website is comprehensive.