Posted on 10/24/2017 9:14:39 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
A University of Illinois math professor believes that algebra and geometry perpetuate “white privilege” because Greek terms give Caucasians unearned credit for the subject.
But that isn’t the professor’s only complaint. She also believes that evaluations for math proficiency perpetuates discrimination against minority students, if they do worse than their white counterparts.
Rochelle Gutierrez argues in a newly published math education book for teachers that they must be aware of the identity politics surrounding the subject of mathematics.
“On many levels, mathematics itself operates as Whiteness,” she argues with complete sincerity, according to Campus Reform. “Who gets credit for doing and developing mathematics, who is capable in mathematics, and who is seen as part of the mathematical community is generally viewed as White.”
Gutierrez argues that subjects like algebra and geometry, which relate to arithmetic, also perpetuate racism and white privilege. She worries that “curricula emphasizing terms like Pythagorean theorem and pi perpetuate a perception that mathematics was largely developed by Greeks and other Europeans.”
Gutierrez claims that the importance of math skills in the real world also places what she calls an “unearned privilege” for those who are good at it. Because most math teachers in the United States are white, white people stand to benefit from their grasp of the subject disproportionate to members of other races.
“Are we really that smart just because we do mathematics?” she asks, raising the question as to why math professors get more grants than “social studies or English” professors.
“If one is not viewed as mathematical, there will always be a sense of inferiority that can be summoned,” she says, claiming that minorities “have experienced microaggressions from participating in math classrooms… [where people are] judged by whether they can reason abstractly.”
To resolve the intelligence gap, Gutierrez calls on math professors to develop a sense of “political conocimiento,” a Spanish term for “political knowledge for teaching.”
She concludes her argument with the claim that all knowledge is “relational,” or is, in other words, relative. “Things cannot be known objectively; they must be known subjectively.”
It promotes an education and a successful future.
Once we drain the swamp, useless University Professors should be our next task
What about Asians and Indians (as from India)...aren’t they well known for great technology and mathematical skills?
Unless physically challenged almost anyone can learn to put a ball in a net. And pick up a few moves to get an open shot. It's a matter of learning and putting what is learned into practice. But not many outside of play-for-pay pros or recreational gym rats like myself put a lot of time into it, since there is more to life than ball.
LOL.
Looking at her photo; she is obviously about 90% Caucasian.
Funny how the Left-Wingers who hate white people, are always at least 50% white, themselves.
Maybe they're just mad that God didn't make them 100% white? Barack Obama, are you listening? LOL again.
“I won, get over it.”
I hate the expression, but that’s the `bottom line’.
The common denominator in all this posturing—the NFL, Stevie Wonder, antifags, lefty meltdowns like “He’s crazee!” .... ?
“We lost.”
Best election ever! He’s driving all the Miss Daisy’s crazy.
This is part of the madness, which has been euphemistically described as "politically correct."
You do not improve human interaction, race relations or anyone's actual "self-esteem," by treating reality as either a grievance or a social detriment.
Back when I could run like a rabbit and jump like a 'roo I was still too small and too slow. The slow bunny gets eaten first!
She’s not a math professor. She’s a Latino studies and education professor. Big difference. Math is not BS. Don’t insult math by calling her a math professor.
The board of regents that employ her should all be prosecuted for dereliction of duty.
“Professor Claims Math, Algebra And Geometry Promote ‘White Privilege’”
i remember trying to explain that to my math teachers in junior high school 50 years ago and they just laughed at me ...
bkmk
And this is why its very hard to name a famous Spanish (or Hispanic!) mathematician!
I can’t come up with one.
Maybe someone else can.
Everyone I try to come up with turns out to be Italian.
********************************************************************
*I* can name one, but she’s a mixed race family member of Hispanic descent, is a school teacher and shall therefore remain anonymous. At two years old this child ran into the house asking me for 5 popsicles. 5? when did this kid learn to count ...I’d raised her and hadn’t yet taught her to count! She’s only 2! So, I asked her who was out there and she named them all but one. Herself. So, I gave her 6 popsicles and out the door she went to distribute them.
At the time I was in college (non-traditional full time student) and I didn’t have a sitter for her, so I brought her along to two of my classes. Humanitites and Algebra. She sat like a tiny adult and never said a word. The algebra professor and I joked together about her becoming a math wiz later.
She went to kindergarten at a private school where she received the best education I’d ever seen in modern day. by grade one however, we had to place her in public school. Before the year was over, she was doing multiplication and long division. By 4th grade, her face was buried in my college textbooks...teaching HERSELF algebra.
She went on to become an award winning teacher and is now pursuing her masters degree. She plans to write math texbooks later. She’s always been brilliant...not just gramma boasting. She has the accomplishments and awards to prove it. She’s book smart and life smart, she’s awesome.
This child suffered 8 minutes without oxygen while being born. We knew she would either be profoundly retarded, or a genius. She did have a little bit of a speech impediment but she’s brilliant.
Ok, she sounds great but I was thinking of someone historic of the caliber of Fibonacci, Newton, Fourier, etc.
Don’t think she has met many Asians?
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