First Woman Kansas Governor

The Law-Related Education Inventory has the following items which might be useful in teaching your students about women in law.

1. This videocassette, designed for all ages, titled The Trial of Susan B. Anthony, is a biography and depicts her 1873 trial. Library number 324.3T73.
2. Women in the American Revolution: Legend and Reality is a film for high school students that discussed the rule of women during the Revolutionary War. Library number 973.3/W842.
3. Check out Wives of Presidents, a poster of the first ladies from Martha Washington to Hillary Clinton. Library number 920.7/W79.

Lesson Plan #1:     Ladies First

Women as Leaders in Politics and Business: A Social Studies Lesson

Authors: Alison Zimbalist, The New York Times Learning Network and Lorin Driggs, The Bank Street College of Education in New York City

Grades: 6-12

Overview of Lesson Plan: Students assess the characteristics of leaders and the ability of women to be leaders in politics and business. Students discuss Elizabeth Dole's and Hillary Clinton's possible futures as politicians and conduct an interview with a professional woman who holds some type of leadership position.

Suggested Time Allowance: 45 minutes

Objectives:

Students will:

1. Write a journal listing characteristics that they feel a good leader should possess, and evaluating why there has never been a woman president and why relatively few women have held public office until recent years.

2. Read and discuss "To Love, Honor and Run for Higher Office."

3. Brainstorm questions for an interview with a professional woman who holds some type of leadership position.

4. Conduct an interview with a professional woman who is in a leadership position; create a poster about the interview.

Resources and Materials: student journals, pens/pencils, classroom blackboard, copies of "To Love, Honor and Run for Higher Office" (one per student)

Activities and Procedures:

1. Warm-Up: In their journals, students respond to the following (written on the board prior to class): List all of the characteristics that you feel a good leader should possess. Do you feel that both men and women can possess these characteristics, and why? Why do you think there has never been a woman president and there have been relatively few women holding public office until recent years?

Students then share their answers.

2. Read and discuss "To Love, Honor and Run for Higher Office," focusing on the following questions: What is the significance of Elizabeth Dole's and Hillary Clinton's potential campaigns for public office? What accomplishments may have earned Mrs. Dole and Mrs. Clinton their prestigious places "at the top of Gallup Poll's survey of most admired women of 1998"? In the fifth paragraph of the article, the writer proposes that though "some ambitious, bright women threaten voters, particularly men, Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Dole ease such qualms because they are also viewed as loyal, traditional wives." Why would "ambitious, bright women threaten voters, particularly men"? What is a "traditional wife," and why is that image less threatening to voters than an "ambitious, bright woman"? What do these commonly-held views reveal about the beliefs of voters in the United States? What does the writer mean when he states in the seventh paragraph that "the positive reaction (to Mrs. Dole and Mrs. Clinton) may be the latest example of voters who. . . have lost confidence in the political structure and see women as representing different values?" Do you agree with Republican strategist Ralph Reed when he says that "what makes (Mrs. Dole and Mrs. Clinton) figures of sympathy and desirable on a political level is the perception that they are better politicians than their husbands"? Why or why not? How does the article illustrate that women candidates do not necessarily earn the votes of women voters? Political scientist Ruth B. Mandel is quoted as saying that Mrs. Dole and Mrs. Clinton "emerged out of the last quarter of the 20th century from a culture which makes it possible for people to consider women as potential Presidential candidates." Why were these considerations not possible until now? What gains have women made in the political arena in the past 25 years?

3. Tell students that they will be interviewing a professional woman who holds some type of leadership position. As a class, brainstorm appropriate questions that they want to ask their interviewees relative to the issues raised in this article, and choose several questions that all students will ask. Suggested questions: What is this woman's position within her business or corporation? How has this woman reached such a high level in her business or corporation? What obstacles did she have to overcome, and how did she do so? What are some of her work-related accomplishments? How has she balanced work and family? What is her opinion of women in political office?

4. Wrap-Up: Students interview a professional woman who holds some type of leadership position. (NOTE: Depending on the age and comfort-level of the student, a parent may want to accompany the student on this interview.)

To prepare for the interview, students should follow the steps below: Prepare the list of questions offered in class. Make a list of other important questions that you wish to ask. Call the business. Explain the interview project and set up a time to meet with this person. If you need directions to the business, ask for them and write them down carefully. If you cannot drive, contact someone who is willing to drive you to and from the interview. (As an alternative, arrange to conduct the interview by telephone.) Don't forget to bring a pen and some paper to your interview, and dress professionally!

When on the interview, students should follow the steps below: Ask all questions clearly, and try to write down exactly what the interviewee says. If possible, take a picture of this person in her work environment.

After the interview, students should type out their interview questions and the answers that they received and display them nicely on a poster board. Students should be encouraged to include pictures on their display. Each student should also be encouraged to write a thank you note to the interviewee, as she donated valuable time at work to help the student with this project.

Further Questions for Discussion: What characteristics do you feel a good leader should possess? Do you feel that both men and women can possess these characteristics, and why? Why do you think there has never been a woman President of the United States and why have there been relatively few women holding public office until recent years? What changes in the political and social climates of the United States in the past 25 years have allowed for the increase of women in politics and in high-level business positions? What obstacles do women often have to overcome to reach higher levels in their professions, and why do these obstacles exist? Do men have to overcome similar obstacles? What is the significance of Elizabeth Dole's and Hillary Clinton's potential campaigns for public office? What do you feel are some of the admirable qualities of Elizabeth Dole and Hillary Clinton? Why might voters be threatened by an ambitious, intelligent woman running for office? What characteristics might be less threatening to voters? How do Elizabeth Dole's and Hillary Clinton's husbands' political significance affect public perception of these women as politicians?

Evaluation and Assessment:

Students will be evaluated based on written journal response, participation in classroom discussions and brainstorming activities, completed interview, and presentation of information from the interview.

Vocabulary: electoral, commodities, tamped, boomlets, formidable, devastating, ambitious, qualms, enduring, revelations, candidacy, articulating, strategist, hybrid, forged, reflexively, lackluster, adviser, potent, antidotes, championing, misgivings, neutralize, earnest, prominence

Extension Activities:

1. Research and write a biography about Hillary Clinton or Elizabeth Dole. Focus on education, career, political involvement, involvement in social organizations, and publicity as the wife of a politician.

2. Create biographical posters of women who have held or are currently holding political office in the United States (senators, representatives, mayors, judges, etc.).

3. Study women's movements in the United States, such as the suffrage movement and the women's liberation/ feminist movement of the 1960's and 1970's. What were the aims of these movements? How were goals reached? What obstacles surfaced, and how were they overcome? How have these movements impacted American society today?

4. Study service organizations created by or run by women. Learn about Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, and Margaret Sanger, to name a few women pioneers who created service organizations.

5. Research First Ladies, learning about their political involvement and social action participation.

6. Write letters to the human resources departments of local companies and corporations to obtain statistics about the percentage of men and women holding different positions in those businesses. Then, compare and graph the data.

Interdisciplinary Connections:

7. Create biographical posters about women leaders in other countries and their political and social accomplishments. Suggested leaders: Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth II, Margaret Thatcher, Imelda Marcos, and Corazon Aquino.
8. Learn about the roles played by wives of political leaders in other countries.

   Terrific Technology for Teachers

Court of Appeals Welcomes You

The Kansas Court of Appeals, a ten-member, intermediate appellate court sits in three-judge panels. The Court of Appeals normally sits in panels throughout the state; however, due to the current budget shortfall confronting the judicial branch, all Court of Appeals hearing are being conducted in the Judicial Center, 301 West 10th Avenue, Topeka. This will remain in effect at least through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002. The court is pleased to have students attend the hearings. The Court of Appeals will be hearing cases from February 11, 2002, through February 14, 2002.

The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the state, and includes seven members. Students also are welcome at oral arguments before the Supreme Court. The high court holds its hearings only in Topeka. The Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments during the weeks beginning March 4, 2002, April 15, 2002, and May 28, 2002.