Ohio Schools: Vocational Education Inequity

A report recently completed by the Vocational Education Project of the American Civil Liberties Union of Cleveland Foundation, Inc. shows that 73 percent of Ohio's schools are failing to comply with federal sex discrimination regulations and are, in fact, failing adequately to prepare women for the working world.

During the 1970's, Congress passed two laws designed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex by schools receiving federal funds. Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the Civil Rights Act, which was to be fully implemented by 1978, directly affected local schools, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in counseling, admissions, course offerings, financial aid, athletics, support services, benefits and other educational activities. In 1976, the Vocational Educational Amendments became law, and included extensive provisions for sex equity. However, the ACLU found in examining Ohio's 1981 Plan for Vocational Education and 1979 Accountability Report that the planning process in general and the coordination of sex equity components in particular have been haphazard at best.

In order to examine steps taken toward sex equity on the local level, the ACLU Vocational Education Project sent questionnaires to 660 school districts in Ohio. Only 119 completed questionnaires were returned. Of this number, 88 schools (73 percent) indicated non-compliance with at least one Title IX requirement.

In addition to data on Title IX compliance, schools were also asked to provide enrollment figures by sex for each of their vocational courses. Great disparities were revealed. Of the 1,418 females in the Trade and Industry and Technical area, for example, 671 are in cosmetology.courses. Only 41 females are in Industrial Arts courses, as compared to 1,682 males. In fact, in the Trade and Industry and Technical serviceareas, only 7 of 38 courses have more than a 25 percent female enrollment: Basic Auto (non-vocational), Telecommunications, Cosmetology, Graphic and Commercial Arts, Radio Broadcasting, Restaurant Management, and Diversified Cooperative Training. Thirteen of the 38 have less than a 5 percent female enrollment. Thus, the vocational programs that lead to the higher-paying jobs are still predominantly. male.

In contrast, male students are enrolling in home economics courses in larger numbers. Eight out of 25 courses have more than 25 percent male enrollment (5 of these are now more than 50 percent), while 7 have less than 5 percent male students. Two home economics courses, Home Remodeling and Basic Cooking, had 100 percent male enrollment. It is also

About the Cover

Over 600 people attended the August 22 "Last Walk-A-Thon for ERA" a fundraising event for NOW's media campaign to pass the ERA. Of those attending the opening rally, about 275 women, men, and children, ranging from 5 to 65 years old, went on to complete the 10.3 mile walk through Cleveland's east side. Through pledges and advertising in the ad book, Cleveland NOW raised nearly $15,000. This money will go to National NOW's ERA Ratification Fund to be used for lobbying and hiring staff to work in unratified states.

interesting that Single Living courses attract a 78 percent male enrollment.

In general, then, responding school districts still have very sex-traditional enrollments in vocational programs, and more males are in traditionally female courses than females in traditionally male courses.

Jons Jeffersúdni

Schools are failing to comply with Title IX requirements that could have an effect on these pat-

terns.

. In interviews with students, the ACLU Vocational Education Project found that they are not receiving adequate information about career opportunities. Generally, students are handed a brochure that lists the vocational offerings and little, if any, further discussion takes place. It is disturbing to note that both males and females tend to believe that guidance

counselors give different career advice to males and females. A significant minority of students said they would not know where to go for more information on nontraditional jobs.

As a result of the study, a coalition was formed to promote sex equity in public school vocational programs. Besides the ACLU of Cleveland, the group includes the Cleveland League of Women Voters, the Street Law Program/Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Women's Law Fund, Vocational Information Services, Women In Skilled Employment (WomenSpace), and several area public high schools.

In order to combat these trends, the Coalition for Equal Vocational Opportunity has several goals:

1) Encourage parents and community groups seeking to improve sex equity efforts in their schools and provide assistance wherever possible.

2) Provide technical assistance to schools seeking to comply with federal laws.

3) Serve as a resource center for groups or schools seeking information on the economic status of women, the role of vocational education, and nondiscriminatory education.

4) Serve as an advisory council for a planned project to provide assistance to Title IX coordinators. 5) Monitor state spending for vocational education and for sex equity.

Specific coalition activities include trying to get sex equity on the agenda of the State P.T.A. convention. Also, the Association of School Boards in Cuyahoga County will hear a presentation by Cynthia Kohles of The Dissemination Service for Sex Equity Information on September 29. Ava Hastert, a member of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education, will talk about that system's efforts to provide a sex-fair education. Parents and other citizens are encouraged to contact their local school board members and urge themn to attend. Groups or individuals interested in more information or in obtaining a speaker may contact Teresa Gidley at the ACLU, 781-6276.-

Tenth Muse Brings Holly Near

The Tenth Muse, a coffeehouse in Kent, Ohio, operated by and for women, opened its doors in November 1979 to a sellout crowd. Initial financing for the project was provided by the rabbi of KSU's Hillel House on North Lincoln Street, behind which the coffeehouse is located, and also by various women who recognized the need for a women to have a place to meet. Open the first and third Saturday evening of each month except during the summer, the coffeehouse can seat 55 women and hopes to become a center for the women's community in Cleveland as well as Kent and Akron, with whom there is already a considerable interaction.

The Tenth Muse takes its name from two sources. In. Greek mythology, there were nine muses, all women, each representing one of the arts. The Tenth Muse is a combination of the finest of all women's arts combined in one place. Also, The Tenth Muse was the name given Sappho by her followers.

During its second season, 1980-81, the women of the Tenth Muse Collective, which now numbers eight, held a reorganization meeting and opened up to the women's community in order to get new energy. They built their own tables and purchased and paid for sound equipment. They also formed Tenth Muse Productions, which held two concerts at the coffeehouse last year, co-produced and financed

by KSU, one with Betsy Rose and Kathy Winter, and the other with Therese Edell.

The Tenth Muse is for women only, except for concerts which are open to the public. A $1 donation (more if you can, less if you can't) is asked at the door, and cakes, cookies, pop, coffee and tea are available. There is an additional charge for concerts.

The next event to be produced by The Tenth Muse is the Holly Near concert with Adrienne Torf, to be held at the KSU Auditorium on September 18 at 8:00 p.m. KSU is contributing no money for this concert, so it is important for all area women to support the coffeehouse by attending this event. Oven Productions will handle the sound, and security and publicity are being provided by the Akron women's community. Tickets for the Holly Near/Adrienne Torf concert are $5.00 in advance and $6.00 at the door. They may be purchased in Kent at the KSU Box Office and the Kent Community Store, in Cleveland at Coventry Books, in Akron at the Akron Food Coop, and in Columbus at Fan the Flames. The auditorium is accessible and childcare will be provided. In addition, the concert will be signed for the hearing impaired.

For further information or directions, call Bonnie or Barrie at (216) 678-6665.

Page 2/What She Wants/September, 1981