Oregon promotes teacher program that seeks to undo 'racism in mathematics'

Fox ^ | 2/12/21

[Altura Ct.]

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) recently encouraged teachers to register for training that encourages "ethnomathematics" and argues, among other things, that White supremacy manifests itself in the focus on finding the right answer.

An ODE newsletter sent last week advertises a Feb. 21 "Pathway to Math Equity Micro-Course," which is designed for middle school teachers to make use of a toolkit for "dismantling racism in mathematics." The event website identifies the event as a partnership between California's San Mateo County Office of Education, The Education Trust-West and others.

Part of the toolkit includes a list of ways "white supremacy culture" allegedly "infiltrates math classrooms." Those include "the focus is on getting the 'right' answer," students being "required to 'show their work,'" and other alleged manifestations.

"The concept of mathematics being purely objective is unequivocally false, and teaching it is even much less so," the document for the "Equitable Math" toolkit reads. "Upholding the idea that there are always right and wrong answers perpetuate objectivity as well as fear of open conflict."

The ODE, led by Colt Gill, confirmed the letter to Fox News. ODE Communications Director Marc Siegel also defended the "Equitable Math" educational program, saying it "helps educators learn key tools for engagement, develop strategies to improve equitable outcomes for Black, Latinx, and multilingual students, and join communities of practice."

An associated "Dismantling Racism" workbook, linked within the toolkit, similarly identifies "objectivity" -- described as "the belief that there is such a thing as being objective or ‘neutral'" -- as a characteristic of White supremacy.

Instead of focusing on one right answer, the toolkit encourages teachers to "come up with at least two answers that might solve this problem."

[brownsfan]

Dumb it all down so the masses are about as smart as a brick.

[struggle]

I feel that this offends my whitx sensibilities

[FatherofFive]

The concept of mathematics being purely objective is unequivocally false

Don't buy any products built by engineers who were taught this new math.

[al baby]

I thought it was the only way we made it to the moon was the brilliant mathematic capability of a black woman

[17th Miss Regt]

I want to teach minority and poor children that feeling good about their answers and not worrying about whether they are right or wrong is the way to go with math.

(Just readying them for a life on the plantation. Heh-heh....)

[albie]

“Upholding the idea that there are always right and wrong answers perpetuate objectivity as well as fear of open conflict.”

...meaning that a “student of color” can answer 2+2=47 and he qualifies for a full ride scholarship.

[JCL3]

Anti-Racist Math + Common Core Math = 0
The goal of constant watering down of subject matter especially math and language. Mission Accomplished as far as making the general population less-sharp tacks.

[Russ]

Would I like to spend 10 minutes in that class. Of course I probably wouldn’t last the full 10 minutes.

[Ebenezer]

The West Coast is teeming with nutjobs.

[cschroe]

[showme_the_Glory]

Zactly. Convenient when it fits. Otherwise everything is white racist.

[LukeL]

If you hate objectivity you should stick with the humanities. The hard sciences only care about what can be verified.

[dsrtsage]

Why are democrats always telling us black people are too stupid to obtain IDs, or add two numbers, or perform any task as well as white people, yet they call US white supremacists

I challenge the fake math people to use their fake math to build a car engine, or an airplane

[CodeJockey]

Diversity will be our downfall.

[wombatsrule]

Oh Dear Lord, please help.

So math is racist.

Venesuala coming to you in 4 years Tops.

Recently I could not ask a person to give me change without them having to pull out a cell phone to add it up and subtract it they just say, sorry computer is out so we are closing the sales and store till it returns.

I left $400 of produce in two carts and walked out, went an hour away and purchased from a store that is now first choice.

We can still do division and multiplication in our heads. My family must be racist.must be racist.

Blessings

[ThunderSleeps]

...that White supremacy manifests itself in the focus on finding the right answer.

I had to check that this wasn't a satire source. You have got to be {censored} kidding me. Math isn't racist. Math doesn't care about your ethnicity. The right answer is the right answer, regardless of your skin color. Similarly, the wrong answer is always going to be the wrong answer, again regardless of your skin color.

Saying that certain races are allowed to get the wrong answer and yet still be given credit is a form of racism. It says you don't think they are capable of getting the right answer and therefore must have some form of accommodation due to their inferior intelligence. That is racist, offensive, and dangerous.

[metmom]

Angela Onwuachi-Willig, an expert on critical race theory at Boston University School of Law, told the Boston Globe that critical race theory helped people understand the complexity of race – beyond "simple" narratives that they may have been taught.

"Racism is not extraordinary," she continued. "Race and racism are basically baked into everything we do in our society. It’s embedded in our institutions. It’s embedded in our minds and hearts."

Speak for yourself, you racist.

[napscoordinator]

Already is.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Don’t drive under any pedestrian bridges, either.