Karen Raines Keller
Responses from Blakely Elementary School to the Lego article
From Ms. Karen Keller, Blakely kindergarten teacher:
I sincerely regret any problems created as a result of the Bainbridge Review article.
As put forth in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education grant request, I was attempting to set up an environment to encourage girls to actively and freely play with Legos during our 30-minute free-choice block. I proposed allowing girls to have an unencumbered opportunity to become more comfortable working with Legos in an attempt to support girls and STEM. My boy students typically dominated this free-choice activity and, given all the research touting the benefits of such open-ended “trial and error” play, I wanted to get the girls connected to building materials. A variety of other building materials were available during these 30-minute blocks. To reiterate, my goal behind this grant was to support girls in STEM.
I was not explicitly clear regarding the time frame of Lego play for all students. Free-choice time has afforded few opportunities for the girls to have equitable access to Legos. When I received the Legos last spring, not this fall as the article stated, the boys also had many chances to play with them during free choice. I started off with the girls-only play to get them interested during the first month of school, and then boys had access to Legos during free choice.
Unfortunately, my remark about "hell freezing over" was a casual, off-record aside meant to convey my frustration with the marketing to girls in our society. Of course, this flippancy was not appropriate for the setting and was easily taken out of context.
Anyone who has worked with me is aware of how I treat all of my students with equal respect and kindness. As a long-time educator and member of this community, I will continue to review best practices and adjust my teaching methods to provide optimum growing experiences for my students. I really do want what is best for each of my students.
It is easy for me to relay that I make every effort to foster a thriving environment for all my students and invite anyone into my classroom to observe and confirm this. I take my job quite seriously and regret helping to foster the offhand tone evident in this newspaper article, as this certainly was not my intent. Every student in my class has access to all curricular materials, including Legos.
From Mr. Reese Ande, Blakely principal:
Blakely Elementary prides itself in meeting the needs of all students in a manner that is supportive, inclusive and appropriate. It is not our practice to promote access or opportunity through any forms of exclusion. Ms. Keller is a passionate teacher who cares deeply for each and every one of her students.