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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 think you should explain your reasoning to the principal first so that they will back you up. If you are using accurate and cited information in your lessons, there should not be an issue. It's not like you are making up this information, it is the reality of the world that we live in. I would also explain to parents my intentions of the lesson. The intentions are not to cause problems or feuds, just to teach them how to interpret graphs with statistics that represent different cultures and races in our country. There is no reason for being upset about the actuality of our reality.
 
     
     
  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: Speaking to the principal first in a good idea, like you said so they can back you up. I think the lesson was age appropriate, some of the parents might not feel that way.
Rated On: October 19, 2014 11:08 pm
Rated By: Adam Sanchez