'No Boys Allowed' day teaches girls about science, math
Dan Cassuto reports
Dan Cassuto, KING 5 News 7:03 p.m. PDT March 14, 2015
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Classrooms at Seattle University had a new rule on Saturday: No Boys Allowed.
That's because it's the annual Expanding Your Horizons program, bringing together 500 middle school girls from Washington State to learn about science, math and engineering.
The girls rotated through workshops focusing on veterinary medicine, infectious diseases and robotics, to name a few.
"We're not trying to exclude boys," said Jen Sorensen, the program's organizer and chemistry professor at Seattle University. "We're trying to provide an opportunity for girls who might not even realize these career opportunities are available to them."
Students as recently as last week suggest middle school girls may not have as much self-confidence in their scientific and mathematical abilities as boys, according to an article published in The Guardian newspaper.
"I think there's no boys so it can teach girls no matter what gender you are, you can still be what you want to be," said Josie, a 6th grader. "You can be smart."
"I'm glad to have a day without boys," said an 8th grader.
"We've got an opportunity for girls to get hands on, girls to work with each other," said Sorensen, who says the program has been exposing girls to science and math topics for 15 years.
To find out more about next year's Expanding Your Horizons program, visit its website
here.
