Posted on 02/11/2005 4:04:56 PM PST by Coleus
Mass. School District Pushes Political Correctness in Math Class by Josh Montez, correspondent
SUMMARY: Why would any school district force political correctness down the throats of students in math class?
Let's hope it's not a trend. The Newton, Mass., public school district is pushing a divisive, politically correct agenda -- in math classes.
Brian Camenker, the director of the Parents Rights Coalition in Newton, is not at all pleased.
"The way these people play with the kids' minds is really horrible," said Camenker, whose two children were educated in Newton public schools in the Bay State. He's especially not happy about the school's curriculum.
"What they have is a school-wide program called 'Active Anti-Racism,' " Camenker said, "which assumes that parents themselves are racists in their own lives, and that kids are being brought up this way and that therefore need to be cured of this."
The lessons begin in middle school math class. Camenker has been vocal in his opposition -- but that hasn't otten him very far.
"I once asked the principal, when he was introducing this, 'What is an Active Anti-Racist - what does that mean?' And he couldn't even tell me. He didn't even know yet! He said, ‘I'm not really sure, but we have to do it.' "
Evelyn Reilly of the Massachusetts Family Institute believes the Newton public schools are more interested in social engineering than good education.
"People need to be very aware of what their children are being taught in schools, especially now in Massachusetts, where we've got same-sex marriage," Reilly said.
Camenker, meanwhile, said the schools should stick with the basics.
If only I was smart enough to figure out what is wrong with our government schools.
You don't work it in. You stop teaching math.
Nothing is wrong with them. They are doing exactly what they are supposed to do and doing it very successfully.
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.
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).
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 !!! ;-))
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.
See my post here
This would be my guess.
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.
Welcome to FR and by the way, you are dreaming!
Thanks for the ping.
Who paid the busybodies who came up with this plan? Is this where the education billions go?
What did he say, the comment was removed.
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.
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.
Also, considering that this came from a group with a liberal agenda against public ed, one does have to wonder.
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.
The word "ethnomathematics" is all you really need to know...to begin to understand.
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.