The girls do not study physics at school because “they don’t like it” and prefer not to do “heavy math”, said the king of government social mobility.
Catherine Birbalsing, head teacher and chair of the Social Mobility Commission, commented as she spoke about diversity and inclusion in generic subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) with the Commons Science and Technology Committee.
She told lawmakers that only 16 percent of her sixth-grade physics students are girls, while they make up the majority of students in biology, chemistry and math classes.
“Here, mostly girls study stem subjects, except for physics,” she said. “From my own knowledge of these things, physics is not something girls tend to imagine. They don’t want to do it. They don’t like him.
“My explanation for the children we have here is that they don’t want it. They would prefer to study biology and chemistry.
When pressured by Greg Clark, chairman of the committee, for an explanation, Ms. Birbalsing said: “I just don’t think they like it. There are a lot of difficult maths out there that I think they prefer not to do. ”
The approach of the British “strictest” director without nonsense
Ms Birbalsing, who was appointed Chair of the Social Mobility Commission last October, had previously been named Britain’s “toughest” headmistress with her approach to student achievement.
As head teacher and founder of Michaela Community School in Wembley, north-west London, its rules stipulated that students were detained for crimes ranging from coming to class without an ambulance to breaking the policy of silence by speaking in the corridors.
In 2019, Michaela’s GCSE results ranked among the best in the country compared to other non-selective public schools. The results show that more than half (54%) of all assessments were level 7 or higher (equivalent to the old style A and A *), which is more than twice the national average of 22%.
Ms. Birbalsing, who became CBE in 2020, became famous at the Conservative Party conference in 2010, where she gave a passionate speech on how schools are “blinded by left-wing ideology”, leading to a lack of discipline and misbehavior. .
Reaction to “outdated stereotypes”
Her comments have angered people in both the science and education sectors, with lawmakers, scientists and teachers condemning the remarks.
Rachel Youngman, deputy chief executive of the Institute of Physics (IOP), said: “The IOP is very concerned about the continued use of outdated stereotypes, as we firmly believe that physics is for everyone, regardless of origin or gender.
“Aged ideas must be eradicated, all young people must be encouraged to study physics and other sciences, and we need specialist teachers to provide this education.
Professor Jim Al-Khalili, a physics expert at the University of Surrey, called the comments “complete, horrible nonsense” and “regressive belly”.
Following the reaction, Ms Birbalsingh doubled her opinion, saying on Twitter:
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