The inaugural meeting of the U-Knighted Feminists of Stoughton High School Wednesday drew about 150 students.
STOUGHTON — Melanie Ingrao was brought to tears.
The history teacher had no idea what to expect for the first meeting of a budding feminist group at Stoughton High School, and anxiously walked toward the doors of Room A307 after school Wednesday.
She stepped inside, looked around and couldn’t help but cry.
One-hundred fifty students, maybe more, packed the meeting room. Girls and boys filled the chairs, lined the walls, and even sat cross-legged on the floor.
Ingrao and the half-dozen teachers who organized the group were speechless.
“My heart was so full,” teacher Mollie O’Connell said. “I’m so proud of them for showing up and seeing this as a positive thing.”
The new club, officially known as the U-Knighted Feminists of Stoughton High School, had been generating buzz throughout the building for weeks with its viral Twitter campaign and posters in the school hallways.
It’s about feminism, students say, and discussing topics like sexism and equality. But it’s also something more simple that that: having a safe space to talk about those subjects thrust into the mainstream with the #MeToo movement.
The club will be a place to have an open discussion, senior Amanda McGillicuddy said. It will be a “safe environment,” senior Kamryn Oliveira said.
Some people might get hung up on the buzzword of feminism, senior Emerson Sprague said, but she hoped people would look beyond it.
“It’s a group to support and empower each other,” Sprague said. “Put all the labels aside.”
After an introduction from organizer and English teacher Jenna Kelly Wednesday, students broke into groups to write down what they hoped to discuss in the future.
Some thoughts were hopeful (“Inspire to be a better person,” read one), and others were serious (“Violence against women” or “Prejudice and racism.”)
Where the discussion ultimately leads is up to the students, Kelly said. They hope to meet every other Thursday, she said, starting Feb. 1. That first discussion is expected to center around “Music and Media,” with teachers Janean Ruschioni and Jillian Goldberg leading the program.
Kelly said more sensitive future topics, like sexual harassment, consent and body positivity, will have five teachers (including one guidance counselor) in the room.
The group also hopes to tackle more practical things — perhaps how to change a tire, give a strong handshake or learn to make healthy snacks.
“What they need is a sense of warmth and happiness,” Kelly said. “And we’re trying to give them that.”
Several students also hoped the group might be a place to discuss the issue of former engineering teacher Timothy Norton, who resigned in September after the administration learned of a years-long sexual relationship with a former student.
The school hasn’t addressed the issue at all with students, several seniors said — it “feels like you’re not allowed to talk about it,” said one.
Wednesday’s inaugural meeting also included a fair share of boys. Senior Mike Anderson said he went to the meeting to learn something.
“Me and a lot of guys don’t really know what feminism is,” he said.
Principal Juliette Miller attended the meeting, as did more than a dozen teachers.
To close Wednesday’s meeting, students were asked to write goals on pink Post-it notes. Here’s a sampling:
“More unity and understanding between boys and girls at SHS.”
“I want to get to know and bond with the female faculty.”
“Ability to have effective, judgement-free conversations about gender roles.”
“I want the school to be a place where we can be ourselves.”
“I see this as a new revolution of men and women standing together.”
“Making everyone at SHS more open-minded and positive.”
“I want to have people realize that women can be just as confident and powerful as men, and that we can do anything.”
The club offers a popular Twitter handle at @Feminists_SHS, which features videos and photos of teachers and students saying what feminism means to them.
A similar group, the Equality, Values and Empowerment (EVE) club was formed at Bridgewater-Raynham High School in April 2017.