A new elective course aims to praise the hidden figures of history: all the women who fought for their rights and the women teaching it, like Women’s History teacher Joanne Pendry.

“I have only positive feelings towards Women’s History! We learn all kinds of things to be honest. At the beginning of this year we started by learning about the past, and now we’re moving towards the future. The lessons are based on different topics such as STEM, politics, reproductive rights, activists, entrepreneurs, etc.,” said senior Andrea McCoy.

During the 2021-2022 school year, FCPS approved a Women’s History course to be implemented during this academic year. The entire Social Studies department was asked if anyone would be willing to teach this course, and Pendry excitedly took the role. Women’s History is now taught at three FCPS high schools: West Potomac, Oakton, and WS.

“FCPS Social Studies coordinators developed some curriculum over the summer, and I was asked to develop material over the summer as well. The course is largely thematic, exploring women’s roles throughout history and across regions. We look at women’s roles in agriculture to warfare, and everything in between. The course also investigates women’s roles in the family, such as the history of marriage, divorce, parenthood, and girlhood,” said Pendry.

The class is mainly discussion-based. For example, students participate in Thursday Thoughts, where they choose a topic from the past or present and essentially lead their own lesson for the class to learn more about a certain topic. Students also have quarterly projects in which they can choose to work in groups.

“It is mostly discussion and in-class projects. There are no tests or quizzes and rarely homework. I think this format allows the course to be more student-driven. Student voices need to be heard, and student choice is important. This is an elective course that’s intended to be accessible to all students of all genders and abilities. It’s not an academically rigorous course and it’s not just for women,” said Pendry.

In FCPS, high school students are required to take three years of Social Studies courses to earn their standard diploma. Students must take World History, United States and Virginia History, and Government. All other Social Studies courses such as Women’s History are electives and must be taken by choice. Making it more engaging and more class discussion-based instead of test-based is in itself an incentive to take the class and learn without it becoming a burden.

“I would 100 percent recommend this class to other students! I feel like students of all genders would learn so much through this class. It’s been really eye-opening for me, and Ms. Pendry is an incredible teacher,” said McCoy.

The effect of having a course unloading all the female figures who have been hidden in history will have a larger effect. Teaching young women and men that there are women who deserve to be praised for their mark on history.