05/12/2008 Equality and Non-Discrimination
Girls in Europe’s schools receive less attention than boys and are treated by teachers in ways that reinforce gender stereotypes, educational experts told members of PACE’s Equal Opportunities Committee today at a hearing in Paris.
Professor Carrie Paechter from the University of London described how, unconsciously, “classrooms become geared to boys’ interests”, while Professor Christiane Spiel from the University of Vienna showed how teachers’ own beliefs about gender could influence their pupils. The hearing, on the rights of girls, will contribute to a report to be debated next year.