Mixed toilets and common uniforms: a traditional school is renewed to fight against gender inequalities

His name is Marianne Arcenillas, but she introduces herself as Mariana Dry. She speaks in the tone of the professor’s voice: slow, steady, warm. For twenty-five years, he has worked at Estrada Collegeone of the most traditional institutions in Ituzaingo, a school which, with more than sixty years of history, has welcomed three or four generations of students. Grandparents, parents and children were running in the same yard.

Marianne dry she always knew she was going to be a teacher. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher, I wanted to teach, I wanted to support students in their growth,” he says. And she, perhaps without realizing it, grew up with them: for a long time she was in charge of a course, then she was part of the primary level management team and from this year she became director of the level. “It was a great joy,” he says, “but I also see it as a huge challenge.”

And a good part of this challenge is to maintain an inclusive and diverse education that breaks with stereotypes and fights for a commitment to equal opportunity among students.

—What actions or measures have you taken at school to reduce the gender gap?

—We made several decisions based on listening to our students. We receive students from kindergarten and from there they go through the different levels. We accompany them at every step and, above all, we listen to their needs, we listen to their proposals. This year, the school has incorporated co-ed bathrooms. This decision was accepted by all the steering teams at the different levels. I believe that this measure reduces the gap that exists in terms of gender. Another decision we made was to unify uniform. The school had gender-divided uniforms and now the new one is a unique uniform that can be worn by any of our students.

—In which subjects or disciplines do you see the greatest need to work on this issue and how do you do it?

—As regards the approach to ESIwe have an institutional project called “Growth”, from where we approach the emotions, and allows us to know, listen to and accompany our students. We do not work on a specific area, but rather ESI crosses all areas. It is worked on by all the teachers who make up the school’s work team.

—How do they support teachers in their regular work?

—Our teams are made up of men and women. Always, above all, we maintain a climate of respect. We respect diversity and work to equal rights. Either with the teachers who accompany our students at different levels, or with the students themselves. This seems essential to me. To be able to respect each other, to be able to listen to each other, to be able to empathize with the other. I think that’s what characterizes us as an institution. The listening we give to the staff, students and families that make up our beloved Colegio Estrada.

READ MORE