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Case: Math and Social Justice! No No!
Recently, I read a report in a national magazine on income levels of different groups of people in the US. The report especially featured income differences between males, females and different ethnic groups. Some of the statistics were very disturbing. For example, women holding the same job as men with same number of years in the job made considerably less money in most of the states. Differences between ethnic groups were even more disturbing. I decided to use these data in my math class with my 5th graders in a lesson on graphing. The purpose was for the students to be able to interpret graphs and create graphs using the information provided. Students enjoyed the lesson and learned some social justice lessons. Apparently a lot of my students talked to their parents about what they had learned in class when they went home. I received notes from about 10 parents the next day simply indicating that what I taught in my math class would lead to hatred among my students and that I should not be wasting their children's valuable time. Rather, they suggested, I should teach math with no controversial materials. I completely disagree with them and I plan to use similar materials in my other courses as well. However, my principals asked me to send an explanation to those parents. I know my explanation will not stop the complaints. How should I go about this potentially long battle? Or should I take the short cut simply remove such content from my lessons?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I would first talk to my principal about what I should do. In this kind of situation, you need your principal to have your back. I would also send a letter home ahead of time explaining the lessons that you will be teaching using social justice issues. I would give the parents the option of whether they want their child involved in this and allow them to go to another room or the library with different work if the parent chooses not to have them involved. I would make sure not to penalize those students not allowed to participate in any way. In your letter, I would make sure to thoroughly explain to the parents why you find it so important and beneficial to the students. Some parents may change their minds and allow their children to participate. |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree with this solution completely. |
| Rated On: October 17, 2014 6:09 pm |
| Rated By: TuBuJy |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I would agree with this. |
| Rated On: October 21, 2014 2:44 am |
| Rated By: qyryMa |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree with your solution. The teacher needs to fully explain to the parents why he is teaching the way he is teaching. Having the parents then say yes or no would be a great way to let them know he actually cares about their feelings on the matter. It would open up the communication lines for sure. |
| Rated On: June 10, 2015 4:25 pm |
| Rated By: TyhyMa |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: Great post! |
| Rated On: July 10, 2015 2:29 am |
| Rated By: RaMevy |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: I do not agree with this solution since students will be in other rooms doing other assignments. I do no think this is an effective way to solve the problem. |
| Rated On: October 14, 2015 1:26 am |
| Rated By: punybu |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: I disagree with your solution in giving the option of the students to not partake in a lesson. |
| Rated On: March 2, 2016 3:36 am |
| Rated By: uBybuz |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: It provides great details onto why this statement is a great solution to this case. |
| Rated On: October 14, 2016 11:37 pm |
| Rated By: zevuBa |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: I do not think that asking the parents for consent to participate in the lesson is necessary. |
| Rated On: February 18, 2019 9:55 pm |
| Rated By: Tiffany Foti |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree that talking to the principal would be useful but first I would ask my fellow teachers to see what they think before going straight to the principal. |
| Rated On: February 26, 2019 1:59 am |
| Rated By: eBejaP |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree with this solution. |
| Rated On: October 9, 2020 8:54 pm |
| Rated By: vaMuvy |
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