 |
Home
| How It Works
| Stats
Login | Register |
|
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 think that your lesson sounds great! Students need to know statistics such as those in order to change them. I do not think the topic you chose should be something we hide. A letter to the parents could go something like this. Dear Parents, I understand that some of you were upset about our recent math lesson. The students were looking at statistics related to the pay gap between male and females who hold the same jobs. The main focus of this lesson was math, however I believe this is an important topic. I have many girls in my class as well as boys. I want them all to know that when they grow up they should have equal opportunities. I want them all to be empowered and strive to do their best. That is why it is important that students are aware of these inequalities. These students are our future and their future should be in their hands. Thank you, feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns. |
||
Rating
|
||||||||||||||||||