The stories that stick with us: Through reporting we learn a lot about history, inequities

In January 2012 it hit me - that year was the 40th anniversary of Title IX.

Having reported on a Title IX lawsuit some 12 years earlier that changed the face of athletics in Elgin Area School District U46, I thought the 40th anniversary would be a good time to see how schools were complying with Title IX in 2012.

Title IX, although centered on athletics in most people's minds, is actually an education amendment. It protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.

We embarked on a series of stories that looked at various facets of Title IX.

It was one of the most gratifying projects I've been involved with during my 47 years in journalism - one that ultimately landed the paper and a group of us a prestigious Peter Lisagor Award.

We wrote not only about how it affected sports but also how it affected the classroom.

Former Daily Herald staff writer Marie Wilson summed it up best with this paragraph: "Schools must not discriminate in admission to classes in science, technology, engineering and math, often abbreviated as STEM. They can't shepherd girls into basic nursing classes and boys into auto shop. They have to provide the same assistance to pregnant or parenting students as they would to any other student with a temporary illness or disability. And they must protect students from sexual harassment, defined as unwelcome verbal or physical conduct related to a student's sex."

I learned so many things about Title IX by helping with the coordination of our series, things I never knew prior to 2012. It was such a valuable learning experience for me, one I wouldn't trade for anything, Lisagor or no Lisagor.

• High School Sports Editor John Radtke has worked for the Daily Herald since 1997.