girls_committee
2009 2008 2007 2006
Girls Committee
Monday, May 7, 2007
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 421
San Francisco, CA 94102
MINUTES
Chairperson: Dawn Liu
I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chairperson Dawn Liu called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m. and conducted roll call.
Committee Members Present:
Andrea Shorter, Member representing the Commission on the Status of Women
Dawn Liu (Chairperson), Member representing the San Francisco Unified School District
Madeline Ing, Member-at-Large
Eileen Li, Member-at-Large
Melissa Padilla, Member-at-Large
Committee Members Absent (unexcused):
Passionae Anderson, Member representing the Center for Young Women's Development
Talia Anderson, Member representing the Youth Commission (Daly's Office)
Staff Present:
Emily M. Murase, Ph.D., Executive Director, Department on the Status of Women
Kim-Shree Maufas, CEDAW Policy Analyst, Department on the Status of Women
Chairperson Liu asked Committee Members to silence their electronic devices in order to avoid disrupting the meeting.
II. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Committee Members reviewed the agenda. ACTION: Adoption of agenda.
m/s/c (Padilla/Li/unanimous)
III. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Committee Members reviewed the minutes. ACTION: Adoption of April 16, 2007 minutes. m/s/c (Li/Padilla/unanimous)
A. INTRODUCTIONS & GIRLS COMMITTEE BUSINESS
There were no members of the public to introduce. Executive Director Murase reviewed items included in Member packets.
B. A Report on Girls: Benchmarks for the Future
1. Education Issues (continued from April meeting)
Member Ing expressed her concern over the fact that Pacific Islanders scored lowest of all ethnic groups on standardized tests. Committee members discussed some of the problems encountered by students taking standardized tests. Chairperson Liu noticed gender differences in academic performance and discussed possible reasons. She thought that perhaps the classroom environment can favor boys over girls depending on the teacher.
Member Ing felt that the quality of instruction was a serious issue. She gave examples of poor quality teaching where the instructor did not put much energy into teaching, and high quality instruction that was interactive and fun. Member Li agreed. She thought that teaching quality could influence drop-out rates.
Chairperson Liu pointed out that, at the state level, the largest ethnic group in public schools is Latino, with White second. In San Francisco , the largest group is Asian American, in a ratio roughly equal to the city's population.
Chairperson Liu asked Committee Members if they connected better with male or female teachers. Member Ing thought that the energy level of the teacher was more important than gender. Member Li reported that women teachers are very supportive. Member Padilla stated her own different reaction to men teachers from women teachers.
Chairperson Liu stated that it can be disabling to have a teacher that does not recognize girls to answer questions in class. Member Ing discussed her experience working with other young women and young men, where the young men dominated most of the group discussion.
Executive Director Murase pointed out challenges of asserting oneself when it is contrary to one's traditional upbringing. For example in Japanese culture, speaking out is discouraged. She also discussed a Stanford University study about why women decide to run for office. One finding was that even men who self-identified as "unqualified," had considered running for office, but even the most highly qualified women had never considered running for office. There were 2 predictors of whether women decided to run for office: 1) if someone else asked the woman to run for office, 2) if someone mentored the women to run for office.
Committee Members discussed the drop-out rate. Member Ing again expressed concerns about teaching quality. Poor instruction can lead students to want to drop-out. She gave an example of a teacher who threatened violence against a number of students.
Chairperson Liu pointed out gender differences in SAT scores. Member Ing felt that this was because boys are unafraid to ask questions and often get more information than girls. Member Li agreed that girls tend to be shy about asking for help from teachers. Chairperson Liu stated that she often second guesses her work. She asked Committee Members if she thought girls would do better in an all-girls math or science class. Member Li supported the idea, but asked what should be done with the boys.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Intern Update
Executive Director Murase explained that the Department will have one high school intern through Youthworks and another high school intern though Enterprise . The Department is still seeking a graduate intern for the summer.
B. GirlFest Update
Executive Director Murase, on behalf of Policy Analyst Maufas, asked why Members Anderson and Liu were unable to make it to the April 21 GirlFest meeting. Chairperson Liu reported that she had a work conflict as did Member Anderson. Executive Director Murase emphasized that Committee Members should work together to make sure meetings get covered. If Committee Members cannot make it to a particular meeting, they should contact another Member to see if she can attend.
Committee Members discussed the upcoming GirlFest meeting scheduled for May 12. Member Li reported that the meeting is scheduled for 12:30 pm at the Department on the Status of Women, 25 Van Ness Avenue , Lower Level. On Saturdays, Members Li and Ing are available until 11:30 am and Chairperson Liu is available until 1:30 pm, so the 12:30 pm timeframe will not work very well. They would prefer a morning meeting time. Member Padilla is not available at all on Saturdays.
Member Li reported on the April 21 meeting and referred Committee Members to the meeting notes.
C. Girls Services Directory Update
Executive Director Murase explained that the high school summer interns will be working on the Directory.
D. 2007 Girls Committee Projects
1. UCSF Young Women's Health Conference Youth Steering Committee Members/COSW GIrls Committee Members 2007 GirlFest Workshop Planning Meetings
Discussed above.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. CONSENT AGENDA
Executive Director Murase provided an overview of the Consent Agenda and explained the adoption process. Committee Members were encouraged to suggest resolutions to be placed on the consent agenda. These resolutions can, for example, recognize a teacher, an organization, or event.
ACTION: To adopt the Consent Agenda. m/s/c (Li/Ing/Unanimous)
VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no members of the public in attendance.
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Upcoming Events
1. SFUSD Student Advisory Council's Youth Summit , Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Chairperson Liu encourage Committee Members to attend this conference. Participants will need a special permission slip to attend because the event is held on a school day.
2. San Francisco Youth Commission Applications due on May 21, 2007
Chairperson Liu reported on the role of the Youth Commission and explained the various issues that the Commission works such as MUNI Fast Pass rates for youth.
3. Maven Craft Fair: Emerging Indie Artists Craftswomen
11 am - 4 pm, Saturday, May 12, 2007
1201 Sanchez Street at 23rd Street, Mission District
4. Cinco De Mayo Celebrations
Member Padilla explained how her family celebrated this important holiday.
5. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration
5:30 pm Wednesday, May 9, 2007, Herbst Theater
Executive Director Murase encouraged Committee Members to attend this event featuring Mayor Gavin Newsom.
6. Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, 2007
IX. Adjournment
m/s/c (Padilla/Li/Unanimous)
American Sign Language interpreters and a Sound Amplification System provided upon request with 48-hour advance notice to 415-252-2570. Translation into languages other than English is also available with 48-hour notice. Limited accessible street parking available. Accessible MUNI Metro station in the Van Ness Station and lines are J, K, L, M and N. Accessible MUNI Lines are the 6, 7, 9, 42, 47, 49, and 71 lines. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available. Meeting proceedings available in alternative formats. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals. To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at least two business days before the meeting at 415-252-2570 (Voice) or 415-252-2550 (TTD). The Board of Supervisors has amended the Sunshine Ordinance by adding provision 67A.1. The provision is effective as of January 21, 2001. The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager or other similar sound-producing electronic devices. Explanatory documents: For copies of explanatory documents listed in this agenda, and other related materials received by COSW, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at 25 Van Ness Ave, Suite 130, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-2570, fax: 415-252-2575. Also, to the extent possible, documents will be available on the COSW website at http://www.sfgov.org/cosw.
(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
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Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 2200, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-3100, fax: 415-252-3112 and web site at http://www.ethics.commission@sfgov.org.
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