Changing equation for girls
More than 100 seventh-graders put their mathematical chops to the test in the borough's first Young Women in Math Day Competition on Wednesday at the Mary Louis Academy.
"We believe in the talents of young women. And we believe that sometimes math and science are fields women are not seen in," said Sister Kathleen McKinney, principal of the Jamaica Estates high school. "So we wanted to encourage their interest."
Three students each from about 40 local schools competed in the event for algebraic glory and some prize money.
The contest consisted of an individualized written math test and a team challenge, where students had to puzzle through complicated equations, ratios and logic problems together and then buzz in their answers.
"We want to let them enjoy the challenge and let them know math is not something to be afraid of," said Celeste Maloney, chairwoman of Mary Louis' math department.
Fear didn't seem to hold back Anna Kwon of St. Andrew Avellino School in Flushing, Chelsea Kandasami of Intermediate School 268 in Jamaica and Stephanie Pang of Middle School 74 in Oakland Gardens. They took home top prizes - and the promise of a $50 check - in the individual category.
"It was a great experience," said Kwon, 12, of Flushing. "I was nervous at first, but once I got the hang of it, it was kind of fun."
"It was exciting," said Pang, 12, of Bayside. "You can use math for anything."
Pang's school placed first in the team contest along with the St. John Lutheran School in Glendale and the Resurrection Ascension School in Rego Park.
The middle school years are crucial for girls in the fields of math and science, experts said.
"There's really no difference [between] elementary school boys' and girls' math and science scores," said Julie Shannan, deputy director of the Houston-based Girlstart, a nonprofit group that promotes math and science to girls.
"When we go into sixth and eighth grade, there's a significant decline in girls' achievement in science and math," she said, asserting that's because girls succumb to peer pressure not to be too smart.
But the poor grades have a big impact on these young women later on.
"It keeps women behind professionally," Shannan said of the fewer women than men entering the fields of computer science and engineering. "Women are not getting the lucrative paying jobs in science and technology."
McKinney doesn't want to see that happen. She hopes to make the competition an annual event and start a similar contest for elementary schools, she said.