Example: Questions to Ponder
Having studied your site and Graded Your School, you certainly have some questions about what is fair and what the standard for Title IX compliance must be. Here are some questions that will help you assemble observations or facts.
- Do the boys have brand-new uniforms, after getting new uniforms two years prior, and the girls are still wearing the same old uniforms from four years ago?
- Do the boys practice on the game court every day and the girls practice on the smaller court off to the side?
- Do the boys have all brand-new equipment and the girls have to share or fix their own equipment?
- Do the boys always play their games at 7:00 p.m., a prime time, and the girls always play at 5:00 p.m.?
- Do the cheerleaders only seem to cheer at the boys’ sporting events?
- When it is time for an away game, does the boys’ team get a big, comfortable bus, while the girls’ team has to pile into minivans?
- Does the men’s team have weekly media guides at games and the women’s team gets a yearly trading card with a schedule on the back?
- When the girls’ volleyball team needs a new head coach, does the school shift an assistant coach from a boys’ volleyball team rather than search for highly qualified coach?
Your questions will now allow you to Gather the Facts and chart your observations in a style similar to the sample chart below.
|
Sample Site Observation/ Observer Date/Time |
Details/Facts |
Source/
Reference |
|
Boys’ Soccer Field
Erin B. 11th-grader
10/2 10:15 a.m.
|
Field was prepped and lined early on game days by maintenance staff; no classes or access to the space for anyone during the weeks of the boys’ season; girls’ soccer field was lined by coaches (10/1, 2:15 p.m.) and routinely used for physical education classes, club touch football and marching band rehearsals (week of 9/22-26). |
Play Fair: A Title IX Playbook for Victory, (Facilities section) |
|
Boys’ Soccer Field and Big Gym
Julia L. (11th-grade student newspaper reporter)
Claire L. (12th-grade student newspaper reporter)
10/24 4:15 p.m.
|
Girls had a varsity and junior varsity volleyball game. There was no official opening to the game with announcer introducing athletes by name, playing “Star-Spangled Banner” tape and commenting on game/scores. The referees just pulled the captains together, talked and then started play. A student manager served as the time-keeper.
At almost the same time, the boys were introduced on the soccer field (surrounded by the cheerleaders); the pep band played the national anthem and a student PA announcer did running commentary on the game. An adult teacher served as time-keeper.
|
Play Fair: A Title IX Playbook for Victory, (Support Services) |
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