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 believe if you have your principle's support, than the show must go on. Take this opportunity to compose a letter to the parents in which you clearly and thoughtfully explain the purpose of your incorporating social injustices into the math lesson. Clearly, receiving 10 letters form parents indicates that further explanation must be needed and that either the students did not translate this correctly or the parents where you live have not been exposed to these types of statistics. Just think, you can spearhead teaching generations of families about social injustice, and mark it off on your crusade calendar. You are an educator, no matter what.                 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 Yes Comments: I agree with your solution. I think it is important that this type of material be presented to our students. Not only does it allow them to enhance their critical thinking skills but it also allows them to learn about social injustice in a safe, comfortable environment. I agree that it is obvious that a letter needs to be sent to the parents. I also would offer to communicate with these parents by email or phone if the letter does not alleviate their concerns. Rated On: February 29, 2016 5:31 pm Rated By: Melissa Dison