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 in this case, this is a math class and it is more important to teach the students math than to bring up controversial current events that may take the learning off of the math. It is our jobs as teachers to teach the required curriculum. If parents are complaining about the teachers bringing issue to the classroom that are not required learning, then it is not worth it. It is important that the teacher teaches the students in this case how to graph, not about the differences in pay. Another issue with using research like this is that many times there is also another study that may contradict the first study. Too many teachers complain that there is not enough time fully covers all the required mater, so then why would a teacher make it more difficult by bringing in issues that are not required.                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No The suggested solution is relevant to the case No The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No The suggested solution is original No Comments: I thought this response took the easy way out. The teacher stated that ten parents sent in complaints. What about the other parents? Maybe they liked what their children are learning. Rated On: October 14, 2014 11:07 pm Rated By: ySaryN                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original No Comments: I agree with you that you can often find research to validate as well as contradict your point. Therefore it might not be appropriate to use those figures. Using data from history books that discuss social injustices of the past might be more appropriate for 5th graders. I think parents should always be included in their child's learning. By keeping them informed, they are prepared and possible empowered to deal with any controversial dialogue at home. Rated On: June 8, 2015 9:41 pm Rated By: uqeXun                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No The suggested solution is relevant to the case No The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No The suggested solution is original No Comments: This takes out all creativity from teaching. Teaching is an art. Don't let yourself be controlled more than you already have to. Rated On: October 16, 2015 7:28 pm Rated By: nydyra                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No The suggested solution is relevant to the case No The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No The suggested solution is original No Comments: I do understand that this is a math class, and of course the math curricula is the priority. However this is a valuable lesson that should be taught to the students regardless of what class it is in, and if this is the only teacher that is teaching it that it should continue to be taught. Rated On: March 5, 2017 4:48 pm Rated By: QaHyWe