Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Math as a Civil Right: Voting rights advocate calls for mathematics literacy
Science News ^ | Week of July 21, 2007; Vol. 172, No. 3 | Julie J. Rehmeyer

Posted on 07/25/2007 11:03:48 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Bob Moses Mathematics literacy is a new civil rights battleground, according to the renowned activist and political organizer Robert Parris Moses. Using the same ideas and methods that he once used to fight for voting rights in the South, Moses is working to increase access to quality mathematics education through the Algebra Project, a nationwide program that he founded... Today, Moses says, many young people are excluded from full participation in the country's economy because they lack mathematical literacy... The ubiquity of computers makes abstract, quantitative reasoning skills critical to a wide range of job opportunities... Moses founded the Algebra Project in 1982 with funds from a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" that he received for his work on voting rights. Initially, he focused on the goal of making sure that all students learn algebra, which he calls "the gatekeeper of citizenship." ... "Because of the deep racial and class divisions," Moses says, "we've never been able to quite hold ourselves responsible for all the children in the country." [photo: B. Moynihan]

(Excerpt) Read more at sciencenews.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: innumeracy; macarthurfoundation; math; matheducation
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last
Because of the deep racial and class divisions in his mind, he'll never be a responsible advocate for equality.
1 posted on 07/25/2007 11:03:54 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Bob Moses’ claims mentioned here:

Trent Lott’s Blow to Civil Rights
The New York Times | 12/18/2002 | ABIGAIL THERNSTROM
Posted on 12/17/2002 9:35:07 PM PST by Pokey78
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/808378/posts

related:

Democratic Debacle (1964 convention, repercussions today)
America Heritage | July 2004 (cover date) | Joshua Zeitz
Posted on 07/28/2004 12:59:49 AM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1179981/posts

The Winds of Political ChangeÖ And Why You Almost Never Feel Them Coming
American Heritage | February/March 2005 | Kevin Baker
Posted on 03/07/2005 12:52:13 AM EST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1357510/posts

What’s Holding Blacks Back?
Source: city-journal.org
Published: Winter 2001 Author: John H. McWhorter
Posted on 03/28/2001 08:25:59 PST by Pokey78
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ac210974cb9.htm

Does anyone have that chronology of Democrat racism?
Posted on 12/28/2005 4:38:01 PM EST by Maceman
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1548315/posts


2 posted on 07/25/2007 11:09:23 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Monday, July 23, 2007 https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Stolen Civil Rights
Source: self
Published: December 16th, 2000 Author: Chapita
Posted on 12/16/2000 17:53:35 PST by Chapita
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a3c1c9f19e2.htm

Civil Rights Leader Charged With Incest
San Francisco Chronicle | 6/9/07 | AP
Posted on 06/10/2007 2:20:09 AM PDT by TFFKAMM
Edited on 06/10/2007 4:20:58 AM PDT by Sidebar Moderator.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1847815/posts

JESSE JACKSON PREDICTS ‘A CIVIL RIGHTS EXPLOSION’ IF COURT SIDES WITH BUSH
Source: AFP
Published: 12/11/00
Posted on 12/11/2000 12:57:45 PST by Brian Mosely
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a353fc95d46.htm

A Choice We Don’t Want (Dems bailing on gay rights?)
The Dartmouth | 8-23-05 | Casey Ley
Posted on 08/24/2005 4:30:44 AM PDT by Hadean
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1469531/posts


3 posted on 07/25/2007 11:10:35 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Monday, July 23, 2007 https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; KlueLass; ...
Ping!
4 posted on 07/25/2007 11:10:57 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Monday, July 23, 2007 https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

This article says that poor areas have schools that get less money than wealthier areas, and that this is not unconstitutional. Okay, as far as that goes, may be a true statement.

But, Washington DC spends more per pupil than many other places, and has some of the worst public schools in the country. Money alone is not the answer.


5 posted on 07/25/2007 11:11:18 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
Initially, he focused on the goal of making sure that all students learn algebra, which he calls "the gatekeeper of citizenship."

He might want to start be seeing to it that Government school children learn basic arithmetic first.

6 posted on 07/25/2007 11:12:10 AM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

You ‘d have to cut out some of the other classes like “Diverse Lifestyles”, “The Liberal View of American History”, “How to apply a Condom”, and others first.

Then get the kids to pay attention. They kids that want to excel usually do, the problem the instant gratification generation has ingrained the belief that you do not need to work for things in life and that listening to rap/heavy metal music. riding a skateboard, or playing ball rate a higher priority than preparing for life.


7 posted on 07/25/2007 11:12:26 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

It costs more than $1.5 million to graduate a single student who is proficient in math from the Washington, D.C. public school district.


8 posted on 07/25/2007 11:13:05 AM PDT by theBuckwheat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: facedown

be, bee, by, bi, sputter.....


9 posted on 07/25/2007 11:13:15 AM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

the irony is that he is right in that math is not being taught fundamentally as it was even 30 years ago. Aside from actually having to teach/pass the material as a cause/effect, I would suspect the introduction of calculators at young ages into classes for even mundane calculations is a big culprit in preventing the early grasp of basic abstract concepts in math.


10 posted on 07/25/2007 11:15:23 AM PDT by WoofDog123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Resolute Conservative

Maybe some other Freepers here know, wasn’t there a court case in Kansas City which sought integration of the schools? And the judge ordered that more money be spent on the minority schools rather than just busing kids back and forth?

Anyway, the result was that in spite of greater resources and upgrading the educational facilities attended by poor and minority students, that their achievement did not increase as had been hoped for. It was a sad failure to see the complaints of poor facilities and inadequate resources directly addressed, and not see improvement in student achievement.


11 posted on 07/25/2007 11:16:12 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Sure why not... another “right”... all it takes is a bunch of lawyers and one judge to say it’s so. ;-)


12 posted on 07/25/2007 11:17:53 AM PDT by rhombus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WoofDog123

I was not allow a calculator in class until college. Now my 8th grader has one and he struggling with concepts shows it.


13 posted on 07/25/2007 11:18:02 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

“Math as a Civil Right: Voting rights advocate calls for mathematics literacy”

So, you have a civil right not to be stupid. My ex-wife needs to find herself a lawyer. . .


14 posted on 07/25/2007 11:18:31 AM PDT by RatRipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dilbert San Diego; facedown; Resolute Conservative; theBuckwheat; WoofDog123

There seems to be creeping leftism at work at the Science News. Here’s an article about faux research which purports to show that collectivism works and free markets don’t. I guess that explains why the Soviet Union had bread lines for 70 years, mass deportations, mass murder by starvation and forced labor, etc etc.

Free Choice + Punishment = Cooperation
Making participation voluntary may discourage cheating
Julie J. Rehmeyer
Week of July 14, 2007; Vol. 172, No. 2
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070714/mathtrek.asp


15 posted on 07/25/2007 11:21:02 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Monday, July 23, 2007 https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: theBuckwheat
But then they understands this:
16 posted on 07/25/2007 11:21:51 AM PDT by AdmSmith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

“Math is hard.”


17 posted on 07/25/2007 11:22:44 AM PDT by keepitreal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: facedown

yes he wants to teach about racial and class division!


18 posted on 07/25/2007 11:27:06 AM PDT by ari-freedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

That is also why you never hear an American history teacher lecture on the numerous failed communist settlements in Rhode Island and other American colonies in early 18th century. It seemed that after the first year there was not enough food and other supplies and nobody wanted to work to generate them.

As is the case Americans tried it first ( 200 years before Lenin ) and found it not to work and abandoned it.


19 posted on 07/25/2007 11:27:15 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith

Ouch, now I have a flash back headache thanks...

Some of the stuff on nano technology is staggering.


20 posted on 07/25/2007 11:28:50 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson