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Alpha Stage
Moms Rule
January 23, 2007
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The L.A. Times is running a story entitled, "Mom is at Home in
House, Senate." The subtitle states, "Female politicians find that
talking about motherhood issues reassures traditionalist voters,
strategists say."

There are more women in the House and Senate than at any time in
American history. A woman governor also heads the National
Governor's Association.

According to the article, "Ellen R. Malcolm, head of Emily's List,
which works to propel the careers of Democratic women, said she
considered the past year a watershed for political women: 'It's kind
of a coming of age.'"
Read a Similar Article!!


Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

  • Ask your students what they think the most important thing
    a mom can do is. Ask them why they think this way.
  • Students could develop skits in which they
    demonstrate something that it's very important for a
    mother to do.

  • Do your students think that the President of the United
    States could be a mom? Why/why not?  Could a dad be the
    President? Why/why not?
  • Encourage students to explain their thoughts.

  • Ask your students what they do to help mom or dad. Does
    this give mom or dad time to do other things? Like what?
  • You might make a list on the board of the different
    kinds of things that the students' parents enjoy doing.

  • Do your students think that there are some things that a
    mom should do and other things that a dad should do? If so,
    encourage them to give some examples.
  • Consider asking students to complete a Venn Diagram
    with either pictures or words demonstrating the
    similarities and differences in the things that their
    parents do..


Discussion-Starters for Older Students

  • Vocabulary terms to discuss: Chance; Liability; Strategist;
    and, Centrist.

  • Why do your students think that a lady has not yet been
    President of the United States, even though other major
    nations have had women leaders?
  • Encourage your students to develop theories to
    answer this question Help them think of theories as
    explanations for why things happen the way they do
    happen. Thoughtful theories evolve as more
    information is added to the analysis.

  • Ask your students to respond to the following comment:
    "Women would make better leaders than men because they
    are more compassionate."
  • Consider holding a class debate over this question.
    Help students remember that it is possible that
    women, as a whole group, would be neither less
    effective or more effective leaders than men.

  • Encourage a response: "It's silly for a women politician to
    pose for pictures with children. After all, if a women
    chooses to become a politican, lawyer or doctor, she is
    choosing not to spend significant time with her own children
    or grandchildren."
  • Is it silly for male politicians to pose with children for
    the same reason?

  • Ask your students to write a thought piece in which they
    explain how an individual might balance their time so that
    could be both a good leader and a good parent.

  • According to the article, 16% of the members of both the
    House and the Senate are women. Should Americans be
    satisfied with these numbers? Why/why not?
  • Students might develop editorials in response to this
    question.
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