The Computer Decoder

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for fairness in all aspects of life. He worked for fair wages, decent jobs, and workers’ rights. He emphasized that every job deserves respect and fair compensation. His words and his actions have inspired labor movements across our country and throughout time. Dorothy Vaughn’s story serves as an example of the challenges faced in advocating for fair wages, decent jobs, and workers’ rights.

The book we are about to read is Computer Decoder. This book builds a bridge between books about injustice and inequality and books about strong women who have faced gender inequality. The story is true. It shares how Dorothy Vaughan had an important role in our early space program under particularly challenging conditions.

Dorothy Vaughan was a human computer. Women human computers were hired because the thinking was that women’s smaller hands and attention to detail made them ideal candidates for the work they were expected to do. The women, however, were paid 40% less than the men who were doing the same job. The women at the time (around the 1940’s and 50’s) made about $2000 a year. In addition, Dorothy was required to work separately from the white females doing the same work. She and all of the other African American human computers not only had to work separately, but also had to use a separate dining room and a separate bathroom

While we read the book, let’s all think about how we might respond to working or learning in a challenging environment. Keeping in mind the work and the words and actions of Dr. King and Dorothy Vaughn, what would you do to help right the situation?

To Think About:
1. We learn that Dorothy Vaughan chose to stay at Langley Institute for Research (now known as NASA) even though the conditions were so challenging. She stayed because she wanted to help advocate for change. What do you think it means to advocate for change?

2. Think about your school or community. Do you have an idea for change that you think could make your school or community better? Be prepared to share.

3. Below is a list of possible peaceful ways you might advocate for your idea for change.

• Write an effective petition that describes your idea for change and collect signatures of other stakeholders who support your idea.
• Write a proposal that describes what you want to do, your plan of action, and the next steps you want to take.
• Write an article for your student newspaper that describes your idea for change, the need for the change, and your plan of action.
• Reach out to your local newspaper or local TV channel with an overview of your idea for change.
• Your ideas: ______________________

Now…think about to whom you might send your petition, proposal, article:

• Teacher
• Principal
• President of your school board or school board member
• City Council member
• Local newspaper reporter
• Your ideas: _____________________

4. Let’s practice using our words to change a situation that we think is unfair.
A Sticky Situation: Imagine that your school principal wants to start a student council with students being elected to the positions of president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The principal has introduced the idea to your second-grade class and has told them that only 4 th to 8 th graders will be able to vote for the student council officers. You think the principal’s idea is not fair to the students in grades K to 3.

• Do you think students in grades K to 3 have the right to question the principal? Why or why not?
• Do you think students in all grades should be encouraged to question the principal? Why or why not?
• If you think it is okay for a student to question the principal, what steps would you take to advocate for change?