Dear Mrs. Bolton,

I am writing to you about the same issue that prompted my father, Dr. Powell, to call you earlier this afternoon.  I have written also to Senator Beth Johnson.

My younger sister, Wendy, will enter the ninth grade next year and her curriculum is limited simply because she is a girl.  As I understand it, Florida law requires that all female students take one year of home economics in order to graduate from high school.  Boys have no parallel requirement.  This, I believe, is sexual discrimination, and I intend to try to get something done about it. 

Because of this requirement, girls have one less elective than do boys.  In Wendy’s case, this means that she will not take a science next year, and will be a year behind any boy pursuing a scientific career.  In other words, Wendy would be closer to her goal if she were a boy.

I feel that it is an outdated and unrealistic idea that all women will be homemakers and should therefore take home economics.  I do not intend to pursue such a course and still I was required to earn a credit in the field.  As the Martin County recipient of the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow Award, I can testify that I have never had a home economics course that wasn’t a waste of my time and an insult to my intelligence.

My time has already been taken since I will graduate from Martin County High School in June, but I do not intend to let my sisters experience the same senseless discrimination.

I would like to see the requirement abolished.  If, however, the gentlemen of the legislator feel that all women must be taught to be mothers, I must demand a parallel course for men.  If women must be taught to be mothers, then, in the name of justice, all men must be taught to be fathers.  I have a few suggestions for the proposed course.  It should include chapters on fixing toasters, building cabinets and cleaning garages.  Perhaps it should also provide information on lawn mower repair, financing new babies, and certainly every father must be taught how to carry out the garbage.

I hope that you will consider our problem, and please keep in mind that I will do anything I can to find a fair solution.
 
 

Respectfully yours, 

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