TeacherServer.com
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 feel that both you and your principal should compose a letter explaining the purpose of your lessons. If it comes from both of you, the parents me be more understanding. My school implements IB (International Baccalaureate) into its lessons. IB helps the students become more aware on an international level. I do not feel that the lessons would lead to hatred among the students. Students should be aware of what is going on in the world. The support of the principal would minimize the complaints but not stop them completely. If you feel that the students would benefit from such lessons and the lessons are age appropriate, and are related to a standard (i.e. interpreting and creating graphs), I do not see a problem with it. You are just using real world information to teach the students. Using real world problems and examples are a great way to help students learn certain concepts.