Newton, Massachusetts School District Pushes Political Correctness in MathClass

family.org e mail ^ | Feb. 11, 2005 | Josh Montez

[Phantom Lord]

If only I was smart enough to figure out what is wrong with our government schools.

[Phantom Lord]

As a former HS math teacher I can't begin to imagine how one would work such into a math curriculum.

You don't work it in. You stop teaching math.

[ladylib]

Nothing is wrong with them. They are doing exactly what they are supposed to do and doing it very successfully.

[Think free or die]

" As a former HS math teacher I can't begin to imagine how one would work such into a math curriculum."

The math curriculum in our elementary school isn't labelled as active anti-racist, but political correctness is quite evident. I flipped through a couple of the textbooks at the beginning of the year and took particular note of the illustrations. Each chapter had one or two pages which showed students applying the new skill or profiled a mathemetician or scientist for them to emulate. The most under-represented group by far were white men or boys. It was quite dramatic. I counted the illustrations, and I think I came up with about 10% - hardly a reflection of reality or proportional representation in the population. The word problems are another area where PC concepts play out.

[TheHound]

Its the new math.

Question:

If Ojawi is a Pacific Rim Muslim Black Women on Medicaid and Welfare with eight children fron six fathers, what is the total number of disenfranchised?

Choose one:

(A) 1

(B) 7

(c) 15

(D) Somewhere between 54 and 75

(E) All of the Above

Note to Teachers: The most correct answers is (D) but credit should be given for all answers except (A).

[Ignatius J Reilly]

"I counted the illustrations, and I think I came up with about 10% - hardly a reflection of reality or proportional representation in the population"

Now that would be a good practical application of statistical methods for students right there.

I have no problem with showing the diversity of our culture through pictures in the books and/or word problems, it should however be an accurate representation of society, not skewed. I also think school should NEVER be a place of any sort of discriminatory practice or bias. However some of this just goes too far, as if teaching math wasn't difficult enough.

[Born Conservative]

[GeekDejure]

Jamaal has two CD's. Tyrone has 5. Shaniequa has 15. Explain how the oppressive racist white patriarchy prevents them from having as many as they want.

======

No problemo. The filthy white RIAA charges money for each CD !!! ;-))

[L_Von_Mises]

As a former HS math teacher I can't begin to imagine how one would work such into a math curriculum.

Check out this link as an example

The link goes to the homepage of a professor at UMass - Boston named Marylin Frankenstein.

And, yes, her name really is Frankenstein. She is on the editorial board of Radical Teacher

From her page:

"In the field of ethnomathematics, along with Arthur B. Powell, I have co-edited Ethnomathematics: Challenging Eurocentrism in Mathematics Education (Albany, NY: SUNY Press, 1997). In the field of criticalmathematics, I have written numerous articles, summarized in “Goals for a Criticalmathematical Literacy Curriculum” (Beyond Heroes and Holidays: A Practical Guide to K-12 Anti-Racist, Multicultural Education and Staff Development, edited by Enid Lee, Deborah Menkart, and Margo Okazawa-Rey, Washington, DC: Network of Educators on the Americas, 1998, pp.306-313). Currently Arthur B. Powell and I have recently completed an article on “Respecting Intellectual Diversity: An Ethnomathematical Perspective” and we are working on an ethnomathematics education book that will focus on classroom applications. Also, I am continuing to revise my criticalmathematics education textbook, Relearning Mathematics (London: Free Association Books, 1989). "

This is just one example of many out there. The really sad part is that she also teaches students seeking a teaching degree. The lunatics are running the asylum.

[L_Von_Mises]

Me too, I was looking for some examples in the article. I presume with the word problems.

See my post here

This would be my guess.

[Radix]

Newton, Brookline, Cambridge Axis.

That is the center of Massachusetts politics.

JFK was born in Brookline, Michael DUkakis lives in Brookline. Barney Frank, Harvard University, Boston College (Brookline is the home of BC) and so very much more. Jim Robinson simply does not have enough bandwidth for a full expose' on the Newton axis to be presented here.

Newton was for a time if not still one of the highest per capita income towns in the USA! Blah blah blah, nobody listens and nobody cares. It is a shame.

[Radix]

Welcome to FR and by the way, you are dreaming!

[P.O.E.]

Thanks for the ping.

Who paid the busybodies who came up with this plan? Is this where the education billions go?

[Coleus]

What did he say, the comment was removed.

[moog]

We allowed it with the War on Drugs, and that provided the entre for this, and for the homosexual indoctrination as well. It was easy for them to take the already-existing facilities and methods and adapt them to their agenda.

No comments about yours here--just want to know your points about the War on Drugs.

[moog]

I have no problem with showing the diversity of our culture through pictures in the books and/or word problems, it should however be an accurate representation of society, not skewed. I also think school should NEVER be a place of any sort of discriminatory practice or bias. However some of this just goes too far, as if teaching math wasn't difficult enough.


I agree with you for the most part. I'm surprised actually. With the no child's behind left act, I wouldn't think they would have time for this. We should keep the "politics" (please not the quotations) on both sides out of school.

[moog]

Also, considering that this came from a group with a liberal agenda against public ed, one does have to wonder.

[Osage Orange]

Nothing is wrong with them. They are doing exactly what they are supposed to do and doing it very successfully.

Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.Nothing is wrong with them.

When I chant that...it still doesn't help.

[Osage Orange]

The word "ethnomathematics" is all you really need to know...to begin to understand.

[ladylib]

I know, but perhaps you might be able to stop chanting the NEA mantra if you stick your finger in an electrical socket or hit yourself over the head with a frying pan a few times. I sometimes find that helpful. It breaks the cycle. Good luck.