Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)Slavery-math questions cause uproar at NYC school [View all]
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Slavery-math-questions-cause-uproar-at-NYC-school-4300138.phpNEW YORK (AP) A school principal said she's "appalled" by a homework assignment that used scenarios about killing and whipping slaves to teach math.
Adele Schroeter has ordered sensitivity training for the entire staff of Public School 59 in Manhattan following last month's assignment, the Daily News reported Friday.
A teacher had asked fourth-graders to write homework questions that blended math and social studies, education officials said. The teacher then used the students' questions, including the slave-related ones, as homework for the class.
One question stated the number of slaves who died while taking over a ship. It asked how many slaves were still alive. The other said a slave was whipped five times a day and asked students to calculate how many times a month he was whipped.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
41 replies, 4269 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (3)
ReplyReply to this post
41 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Nope, sorry. My parents are retired teachers, I grew up with teachers,
liberalhistorian
Feb 2013
#33
They should have balanced it with questions about debtors prisons. Slaves didn't owe anybody,
juajen
Feb 2013
#22
Can't blame people for being outraged. And can't blame the 4th graders for asking the questions.
Kalidurga
Feb 2013
#29
And I thought my kid's homework was a little dated for having word problems about bowling...
winter is coming
Feb 2013
#38