Celebrating Women's History Month
at HHS
Women's History Month will be celebrated at Huntington High School in March by students who know more about it than probably any other teenagers anywhere.
Huntington's women's studies course has a devoted following at the high school. It's taught by Camille Tedeschi, who works hard at her craft and never stops learning herself. The teacher likes to keep her classroom an interesting place for students.
Ms. Tedeschi obtained a Bachelor of Arts in history, with minors in education and women's and gender studies, at Pace University in 2002. The teacher created Huntington's women's studies course during her first year in the high school and has led it ever since. "It is one of my favorite classes to teach," she said. "I typically get many students I have taught previously in ninth and tenth grades and I value how much they enjoy me as a teacher and enjoy the class."
The course features project-based learning, discussion and current events. "Last semester many of the students enjoyed the units of study on fashion and human trafficking," Ms. Tedeschi said. "This semester the students really enjoyed their 'ME' board assignments and the study of our first ladies, which I introduced to the students by studying my favorite first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt."
Many teenagers enrolled in the course find the class to be the highlight of their day. "The students in my classes are motivated to learn, outgoing, friendly and creative," Ms. Tedeschi said. "I could not have asked for a better bunch. We will be celebrating Women's History Month by exploring various females and their achievements in history and we want to encourage the entire school to be involved, so we will be making announcements highlighting women throughout the month."
"We are pleased to have the women's studies course up and running and look forward to the celebration this month of the outstanding contributions of women in all fields," said Joseph Leavy, Huntington's chairman of humanities. "As our government recently noted in changing the policy toward allowing women in combat, when a nation offers opportunity to all based on their abilities, and does not preclude based on other parameters like sex, religion or race, that is the nation and culture and civilization that will grow, prosper and thrive. Our nation is such, and we join in with all across our land in this and last month's celebration of African-American contributions."
The women's studies class continues to be a popular one and meets the needs of Huntington's diverse student body. "I am especially proud of the work Ms. Tedeschi has done in sustaining a strong level of challenge in this course, as certain students are offered the option of taking the course for college credit through St. John's University," Mr. Leavy said.
Women's History Month traces its origins to pre-Civil War America, when women employed in New York City factories staged a protest on March 8, 1857 against what they considered abysmal working conditions
"International Women's Day was first observed in 1909, but it wasn't until 1981 that Congress established National Women's History Week to be commemorated the second week of March," Ms. Tedeschi said. "In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution for Women's History Month, and the president has issued a proclamation."
Women's History Month helps cast a spotlight on the story of women in the United States and their achievements in the arts, business, sciences, sports, medicine, government, literature and every other field imaginable. "Recognizing these achievements inspires women to pursue new opportunities," Ms. Tedeschi said.
The teacher said that prior to 1970, "women's history was rarely the subject of serious study." Today, most colleges offer women's history courses and master's and doctoral degrees in the field are also offered at many graduate schools.
"We are lucky to have a women's studies course offered as an elective at Huntington High School," Ms. Tedeschi said.