Science was Mia’s favorite subject in school. Mia knew that she would become an Entomologist someday. Entomologists study insects.

Mia walked into the first day of 5th grade ready and excited for science class. She was most excited for the science fair. The students at Mia’s school got to participate in the science fair. Mia had a big idea for the science fair. She wanted to make a presentation about the body and life cycle of insects. Mia was sure everybody would love it.

When Mia got to her first science class of the year, all of the students had to introduce themselves and tell the class what they wanted to be when they grow up. When it was Mia’s turn, she explained that she wanted to be an Entomologist. Her teacher seemed surprised. “You wouldn’t want to do something else? What about a teacher? Or a nurse? Bugs don’t seem very ladylike.” Mia was frustrated. Why can’t I like bugs? She thought. Bugs are strange and cool and exciting!

 Everyday in science class, Mia raised her hand high for every question because she knew every answer. Her teacher never called on her, but the boys got called on all the time. This made Mia very sad. She had so much knowledge, but her teacher didn’t seem to want to hear it. After a while, Mia stopped raising her hand at all, even when she believed she knew the answer. Mia didn’t think her teacher thought she was very smart and thought maybe the teacher was right.

One day, during lunch, Mia was sitting with some of her friends. All of the girls at the table complained that they didn’t get called on enough in their science classes. “My teacher lets all the boys answer the questions. If I get the answer wrong, he makes me feel so silly.” said one girl. “My teacher talks to me like I don’t know anything, but I do! I don’t even bother to raise my hand anymore.” said another. Mia was glad that other people understood what she was experiencing. But she was sad and confused that the teacher was ignoring the girls. “Why is this happening? Why don’t the teachers let the girls participate?” Mia asked. Nobody had an answer, and everybody looked sad.

When it came time to apply to the science fair, Mia still wanted to try even though she felt discouraged by the teachers at her school. The school’s science teachers chose which students got to participate in the science fair. I hope I get chosen! Mia thought on her way home from school. She was confident. Nobody else wanted to do a project like hers.

Mia arrived at school the next day feeling full of anticipation. It was the day her science teacher would tell the class who got to be a part of the fair. The class was whispering and buzzing with excitement.

The science teacher announced the list of names. Mia waited to hear hers. The teacher reached the bottom of the list, and Mia’s name still had not been called. Her heart sank. Her dream of getting to show everybody the beauty of bugs was crushed. Mia sat sadly at the back of the classroom.

That day at lunch, Mia sat by herself. She felt embarrassed that her project had not been picked for the science fair. Mia had thought that her project deserved to be shown. She worried that she would never be smart enough to become an Entomologist.

I guess my project just wasn’t good enough.

The next day, during lunchtime, the students who were chosen to be a part of the science fair met in the science classroom with all of the school’s science teachers. They would get to work on their projects and get extra help from the teachers. Jealous, Mia left the cafeteria to peek through the window of the science classroom. To her surprise, there was a group of girls also waiting outside the window. They were taking turns peering into the classroom, looking disheartened.

When Mia asked what they were all doing there, they told her that they had all been turned down from being a part of the science fair too. “Well, who is a part of the science fair?” Mia asked, surprised. “It’s all boys in there.” One of the girls said. Mia looked into the classroom and saw the teacher talking to a table full of boys.  

That doesn’t seem very fair. Why is it only boys in the science fair?

"I don't want to go to the science fair if the teachers don't think we're smart enough to be a part of it!"

 The girls all agreed. They wouldn’t attend the science fair if the teachers didn’t think girls could participate.

After school that day, the girls Mia had spoken to talked to their parents. They told them that no girls had been let into the science fair. The girls expressed their frustration that their teachers spoke to them like they weren’t as smart as the boys. Finally, the girls declared they would not go to the science fair unless girls were allowed into the science fair equally, were called on more in class, and were treated equally to the boys at school.

TITLE 9

After the girls who were not allowed into the science fair talked to their parents, the parents knew that they would have to talk to a special person at the school called a Title 9 Coordinator. Title 9 is a rule in the United States that says that public schools are not allowed to treat students differently because of their gender. These schools have Title 9 Coordinators that parents, students, and teachers can report unequal treatment to. The coordinators have to investigate the problem and are allowed to punish the person who is treating people unfairly.

The parents of the girls who were not let into the science fair called the Title 9 Coordinator so that they could report unequal treatment from the science teachers. They explained what had been happening to their daughters and their friends. The Title 9 Coordinator was very understanding. She agreed she would talk to the science teachers.

“Well, everybody in this school has to be treated equally. Teachers that don’t follow this rule aren’t allowed to work here anymore.”

                      .

"My daughter should be taught equally to the boys in school because they are equal."