Intended for use in preservice teacher education programs, this unit provides an overview of the role that women have played as educators. The publication is designed to help future teachers become knowledgeable about issues of sexism and skilled in approaches to alleviating this problem in schools. The sections are chronological. Section 1, "Colonial Women as Educators, 1600-1776," examines early private schools and differences in educating females and males. Section 2, "Educating Citizens for the Republic, 1776-1860," discusses the development of mass education, the growth of the female seminary, the role of women in teaching, women's rights, and educating black children in antebellum America. The third section, "The Reshaping of Mass Public Education, 1865-1900," deals with the feminization of teaching, vocational education, women's access to higher education, the social settlement house, and the rise of the kindergarten. In section 4, "Teaching as a Career in the Twentieth Century, 1900-1960," teachers' organizations, progressive education, new opportunities for black women and racial integration of public schools are discussed. The fifth section, "Toward Non-Sexist Schools, 1960-1980," deals with sex discrimination in teaching and changes in educational policy. Section 6 contains a brief summary. Discussion questions and related activities are provided at the conclusion of the publication. Ninety-seven references are included. (RM)