Oregon Plan to Undo "Racism in Mathematics".

Post Reply New Topic

It has to do with spelling.

They’re encouraging kids to spell phonetically in the early grades.

This sounds like what's been happening in Brazil (or São Paulo at least) for a long time. In the 90s and early 2000s, there was a big fuss about "taking kids off the streets", and they succeeded at that. But getting those kids to learn was hard work, so... they didn't. When I was a kid, failing a year in school was definitely a thing (as much in public schools as it was in private ones, as far as I know). Today, it is not. You go to school, and if you're interested in learning, you learn. But if you're not, you don't. Simple as that.

It almost sounds fair, but the thing is, most kids are (understandably) not interested in learning, and unsurprisingly that's especially true for low-income kids. Today everyone is expected to have a college degree, but people come out of the typical college knowing far less than I did when I graduated from high school.

As as an aside...

I wonder: What does phonetic spelling even look like in English?

Fonetiks = phonetics lol

As a teacher, I am saddened to hear about this movement. It is almost like that they intend for others to remain ignorant in mathematics on purpose. To me, it is a form of racism. Without math skills, it cuts out most STEM fields from their future careers. Those are also fields that tend to hone critical thinking skills. It is a domino effect upon society when we lose good candidates in those areas, regardless of race, sex, sexual preference, religion, etc. We will not progress, but digress as time passes.

When I teach, I assume everyone is equal. They have the choice to earn the grade that they want or do not want. I tell them that they will decide their future based upon their choices to study or not. Some will require more help along the way. It is my responsibility to try to be their for them when they need the help.

Unfortunately, that is not really true. If you give me stats on race, socioeconomic background, and college generation, I probably can show which students will do better or worse than others. I will also be able to spot the ones that will approach you. None of that is based on ability or desire to succeed. Your pep talk might not be that helpful either.

I have no doubt you care for your students. Unfortunately, humans are complex. Just look at the impact autism can have on someone. Meritocracy has been such a bad idea.

Many students from lower socioeconomic echelons buck the trends—especially if they were taught right in decent schools.

Quantum teaches chemistry...a pretty exact science. It’s usually either right, or it’s wrong. Put the wrong combination of chemicals, it can blow up the room.

I believe in meritocracy and in many paths to success.

I don’t believe in participation trophies.

Meritocracy works when there is a level playing field

Or when you have to focus on actual problems to solve, not on social aspects of the process.
Meritocracy can't be removed from engineering if you want things to be working and safe.
Or, imagine you have to have a surgery. What criteria would you apply when choosing a surgeon to tinker with your heart?

Some fields just have to be meritocratic or we're all doomed.

If we see inequality there, let's focus on adressing the social issues that may disadvantage some - but the meritocratic goal needs to remain.

And, honestly - back to my experience with sexism in science world - I don't care if there are 5 times less women than men doing research on Quantum Physics - unless they have been scared off by sexist jerks, that is. But once we're done with sexist jerks, I don't care.
I care weather the ones who do it are respected and evaluated by their results. Meritocratically. Lowering criteria for minorities is insulting.

Well let's be clear, providing opportunity does not mean taking short cuts with quality. If a woman is given a place to become a medical doctor (even if its to fill a quota) then I would expect she goes through the same competency checks that any male would have to pass.

Does your country have less women than men in medical studies? Interesting. Here, it's the opposite.

My Science teacher, a very beloved lady, accidentally blew herself up. Most students had left the room as the bell had gone off signalling end of class, but, a few students remained. One male student foolishly decided to burn sulpher, received a telling off, but the teacher made several mistakes, and one thing led to another. Next moment, she was covered in a yellow flame from the waist up. Wearing a jumper was what saved her body, and after a week in hospital, she was sent home, scarred. Ironically, her husband was a firefighter.

I knew of a number of students who like myself, were from poorer backgrounds, but we strived for a better life. Many of us were from single parent families, due to death or divorce. My best friend, went on to become a Vet, another became a Doctor. I definitely feel that many of us, regardless of whether the teacher was any good or not, had such determination and passion in us to reach our goals, that we did spur each other on competitively. It worked, that’s for sure! Same thing for sport. It meant we achieved far beyond expectations, considering backgrounds. A combination of healthy competition, a genuine love and appreciation of education, and a desire to be self sufficient and independent. Money/wealth itself was never the goal. That was merely a benefit that came later. It was more about drive and doing what we loved. We worked hard to save for University.

I agree. There is no good reason to lower standards of education. Students are like customers, regardless of what status that they have/do not have. Teachers need to give the students the best product (education) that they can, or they are ripping the students off. I measure my teaching skills not on popularity but by what my students do with what I teach them. Many of my coworkers take shortcuts in teaching students that I later have to correct. I must be doing something right by the way I teach. I have many former students who are now medical doctors, pharmacists and even licensed chemists. I often get thank you messages when they pass qualifying exams, as they credit my lessons for giving them an edge on passing.

I am sorry to hear about the sexism in your field, Magz. It simply does not belong in science or any other area.

The message, really, is to not listen to the Naysayers.....and to pursue knowledge as something which goes beyond "people."

If we dilute the curriculum for the "benefit" of "minorities," we are doing the "minorities" a disservice. People educated in this "diluted" way often cannot compete with those who are educated with more demanding curricula. They often have to rely on the goodwill of other people educated more conventionally. This perpetuates a vicious cycle----part of that cycle is the assumption that "minorities" cannot make the grade without the inevitable assistance of those in the "majority."

And that's what makes a good teacher: what his students learn

Luckily, such occurences are very rare and they're becoming even rarer as I age - but that's the only form of bias against minority that I have experienced first-hand... before I started moderating, lol But those who had a problem with being moderated by a foreign female always had even bigger problem with adhering to the rules and never lasted long