A traveling Smithsonian exhibit and a school in New Orleans have one thing in common: Girls.
My daughters’ curiosity about the world keeps me youthful. The older I get, the more I learn from them. Each lives their life traveling, reading, and “doing stuff.” And by “doing stuff,” I mean like getting a library card in every city they move to, gathering a group to fly to Canada to see their favorite performer (Hint: T.S.), and exploring museums like the 9/11 Memorial, the MET, and most recently, joining me to tour the Minnesota History Museum exhibit, Girlhood (It’s Complicated).
The exhibit, created by the Smithsonian, was described by its curators as a way to “engage audiences in timely conversations about women’s history and women’s issues through unexpected stories of girlhood in the United States.” It won the Smithsonian Award for Excellence in Exhibitions for 2021–2022, and after seeing it firsthand, we understood why.
The exhibit explores how girls have interacted with five key themes: news and politics, education, wellness, work, and fashion. One moment that stood out during our tour was when we stood side by side reading about clothing. My daughters were shocked by what girls were required to wear, or forbidden from wearing. This discovery sparked a flurry of questions about what school was like for me, for girls of color, and for girls who wanted to play sports.
The exhibit reminded us of how long women have been questioning, fighting, and demanding equal rights. While the exhibit tour has ended, it is still available online, and my daughters and I highly recommend it.
Another story that stuck with me came from CBS Sunday Morning, (one of the few things I’ll gladly skip heated yoga to watch). That’s how I first learned about St. Mary’s Academy, a school for Black girls in New Orleans with an incredible record: for the last 19 years, they’ve had a 100% graduation rate and a 100% college admission rate.
Founded in 1812 by Henriette Delille, the school’s history is just as powerful as its present. Delille was determined to educate both enslaved and free people of color, despite strict laws at the time that made that work illegal. Her legacy lives on in the school’s mission and its extraordinary students.
During the segment, two students from St. Mary’s Academy, Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson, were asked about their groundbreaking accomplishment: independently proving the Pythagorean Theorem using geometry. It’s an accomplishment so rare, it made national headlines. Yet, when the school’s principal, Pamela Rogers, was asked about the girls’ accomplishment, she simply said, “We were not shocked…our students can do anything. And that’s what we tell them. You know, ‘The sky is the limit, and we want to be up there with you.’”
Both stories, the Smithsonian exhibit and the story of St. Mary’s, left me thinking about what they mean for our classrooms.
They remind teachers that we teach content, and so much more. We teach students to question, to persist, to think critically, and to believe in themselves. These stories are tools for teaching women’s history, yes, but they’re also blueprints for empowerment. They show how high expectations and meaningful representation can change what students believe is possible.
If you’re looking to bring this kind of meaning into your classroom, here are some ways these stories can inspire and support both teachers and students.
For Teachers:
Inspiration
Both provide rich material for teachers to use in their classrooms. The Smithsonian exhibit offers a framework for discussing women’s history through specific themes like politics, education, and work. St. Mary’s Academy’s story can be a case study in how to encourage an environment of high expectations and academic excellence.
Empowerment
These stories emphasize the importance of teaching students to question, challenge, and think critically. The exhibit’s focus on historical inequalities can be a springboard for discussions on social justice. St. Mary’s Academy’s success demonstrates how a belief in students’ potential (and their belief in their own potential) is a key to achievement.
Celebration
Because one of the exhibit’s stops was in Minnesota, they showcased girls’ basketball by including lifesize pictures of Minnesota players: Linda Roberts, Lindsay Whalen, and Paige Bueckers on the walls with this advice: “Any girl will tell you that the right way to be an athlete is to be yourself.” Also highlighted was a section on women’s wheelchair basketball and a group of Minnesota high school girls who modified their sports’ uniform hijabs so they wouldn’t fall off.
And, a celebration of the accomplishments of Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson at St. Mary’s Academy is a wonderful way to celebrate math!
For Students:
Connection
The Smithsonian exhibit is a way for students to see how history is not a collection of dates and facts, but a living narrative that continues to impact their lives today. It allows them to see themselves reflected in the historical struggle for equal rights and to understand the context of social issues.
Role Models
Both the exhibit and the story of St. Mary’s Academy offer powerful role models. Students can see girls who, despite historical or social barriers, have achieved greatness. The young women at St. Mary’s Academy demonstrate how students can make significant contributions to fields like mathematics.
Expectations
The success of St. Mary’s Academy sends a clear message to students that they are capable of anything! The school’s 100% graduation and college admission rates, along with a culture of high expectations, inspire students to believe in their potential.
Both the Smithsonian exhibit and St. Mary’s Academy highlight the importance of seeing and celebrating girls for who they are and who they can become. These stories remind us that the work we do in the classroom matters. They’re reminders that what we bring into the classroom matters. When we show students real examples of persistence and excellence, we help shape what they believe is possible. That’s work worth doing every day!
About the Author
Susanne Leslie is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s in Education. As a former parent educator, Susanne’s specialty is Culture, Wellness, and Early Childhood instruction. In her current role, she writes courses and content, and is an enthusiastic advocate for play and time outdoors as the best teaching tools.
Fun Fact: Susanne has jumped out of two (perfectly good) airplanes!
