tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post116788122800906194..comments2022-02-28T23:09:06.522-11:00Comments on Dr. Homeslice: Wrong on the Left Coast!Dr. Homeslicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783745875952845318noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-29829663119478579072007-03-03T19:10:00.000-11:002007-03-03T19:10:00.000-11:00If it's debunking you want, I did what I consider ...If it's debunking you want, I did what I consider to be a thorough job of it regarding the Rethinking Schools people.<BR/><BR/>http://rightontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2005/07/math-for-social-justice-part-1.html<BR/>http://rightontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2005/07/math-for-social-justice-part-ii.html<BR/><BR/>As I say in the opening of the 2nd link above:<BR/><BR/>"Rethinking Mathematics is nothing more than an attempt to politicize the teaching of math." I identify some of the so-called lessons in Rethinking Schools, and show how they are social studies issues, not math issues. Math is neither good nor bad, Left nor Right. It has no slant, no bias. The same cannot be said of social studies. In fact, I offer this advice:<BR/><BR/>"Social science should not be injected into a math curriculum. Rather, math (as a hard science) should be injected into the social science curriculum (a soft science)--that would truly be teaching "across the curriculum". Don't bring your politics into math; rather, use math to justify (or disprove) your politics."<BR/><BR/>Again, I encourage you to read the (rather long) posts I referenced above. You'll see that the Rethinking Schools people (including a former Weather Underground terrorist) are very clear about their political leanings and what they hope to accomplish.<BR/><BR/>Click on the <I>Rethinking Schools</I> label on my blog to read all that I've written about these people. They're extreme.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1169014532248502742007-01-16T19:15:00.000-11:002007-01-16T19:15:00.000-11:00I discuss the Simpsons episode where they segregat...I discuss the Simpsons episode where they segregate the boys and girls into their own schools. Lisa sits in the girls' math class where the teacher asks "How does 7 make you feel?" or something like that. Out of frustration she sneaks in the bushes next to the boys' math class and looks in. I think she sees the teacher ask for the solution of "y^2 = 25" and she shouts through the window "y equals five" and a boy corrects her "plus or minus five"<BR/><BR/>It's good for helping them remember to consider both square roots.<BR/><BR/>And to indoctrinate them with my extremist belief that mathematical ability is not gender determined.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1168867338338441712007-01-15T02:22:00.000-11:002007-01-15T02:22:00.000-11:00Jonathan’s response to my comment does a good job ...Jonathan’s response to my comment does a good job of adding additional support to my fears about how “social justice” would be used in the classroom. <BR/><BR/>Nothing in my post suggests that <I>Homeslice</I> is anything but a fair person. I explicitly say that I have no reason to suspect that he would exploit “social justice” to interject left-wing ideology into the classroom. What I claim is that others would, especially since “social justice” is a code phrase for certain left-wing political views. There is nothing politically even-handed about it.<BR/><BR/>At the same time he objects to <I>“the right-wing ideology-drenched Summers stuff”</I> Did he read the <A HREF="http://www.lagriffedulion.f2s.com/math.htm" REL="nofollow">article</A> I referenced? It is 99% mathematical. There is one impolite reference to feminists at the very end. Otherwise it shows with mathematical rigor that, using real-world data, the underrepresentation of women on technical faculties of elite Universities is to be expected. The report reaches a conclusion that some do not even want to discuss as a possibility. This is the very essence of ideology, an inability to even consider the possibility that you are wrong. Therefore all those with contrary views are to be labeled ideologues in their own right whose ideas are not worthy of serious debate.<BR/><BR/>Is it not rational for me to expect that the same ideological forces that arose to drive Summers from Harvard would also be present in other educational forums? I believe there is more than enough interesting material to teach so that both religion and politics can be kept out of the classroom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1168820415185546872007-01-14T13:20:00.000-11:002007-01-14T13:20:00.000-11:00What good is anything that students learn in the c...What good is anything that students learn in the classroom if they are not also taught to better understand the world and the contexts in which they might improve their own lives? It bothers me greatly when anyone -- educator or otherwise -- finds the notion of social justice education a threat. Ignorance does not make a just society, which is what I like to believe is a poignant goal of democracy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1168653905616042812007-01-12T15:05:00.000-11:002007-01-12T15:05:00.000-11:00Homeslice tries to show both sides of an issue (re...Homeslice tries to show both sides of an issue (read the post again), and the ideology driven phd (doctor) objects to anything that looks evenhanded, and suggests the right-wing ideology-drenched Summers stuff?<BR/><BR/>The amazing thing is he must have really expected smart people not to notice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1168528268691275202007-01-11T04:11:00.000-11:002007-01-11T04:11:00.000-11:00If the idea of “social justice” was just to pique ...If the idea of “social justice” was just to pique students’ interest, it wouldn’t be as controversial as it is. <BR/><BR/>The real concern is that it will become another attempt at leftist social indoctrination. The anti-Pinochet example you cite does little to mitigate these fears. Can we expect to see stories of how the poor suffer under Castro, for example? I think not.<BR/><BR/>We know the teachers unions are highly politicized towards the left. We know higher education is also (but at least there one has a choice of schools and classes). It is quite rational to expect that the social justice movement is just another attempt to make political indoctrination more palatable. Maybe you won’t so exploit it, but many others will if given the chance. Isn’t there enough interesting literature that isn't overtly political?<BR/><BR/>Science has already become politicized with stem cell research being the most egregious example (Global Warming and Intelligent Design being two additional examples.) <BR/><BR/>There is precious little time for science and math instruction as it is without introducing “social justice”. If you cannot make these topics interesting to your students without “social justice” you are not much of a teacher.<BR/><BR/>Finally, when it comes to math, perhaps there is one “social justice” topic that might be relevant — the Larry Summers blow-up at Harvard when he had the temerity to suggest that perhaps there are non-bias reasons for the apparent disparities in the male/female represention on elite faculties in technical fields. Do you suppose some math teacher will discuss the pro-Summers side as detailed <A HREF="http://www.lagriffedulion.f2s.com/math.htm" REL="nofollow">here</A> in mathematical detail?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1168396942434846442007-01-09T15:42:00.000-11:002007-01-09T15:42:00.000-11:00Oh, and if you are interested in early 70's Chile,...Oh, and if you are interested in early 70's Chile, there's a film, Machuca, should be out on video now. Highly recommend it (Two boys, one rich, one poor, become friends just before the coup. We see the world through both kids' eyes.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1168239930700524072007-01-07T20:05:00.000-11:002007-01-07T20:05:00.000-11:00And I chose the most traditional math text books a...And I chose the most traditional math text books available, I believe (Dolciani et al), but I add all sorts of fun stuff, as time allows, or where it naturally fits.<BR/><BR/>But, math for a full period? It can be tough. I often interrupt class to talk about something else. Sometimes a kid hits a tangent, and we run with it. Other times I pick the topic. <BR/><BR/>But there's a lot of social justice kind of stuff. Easy, I'm not a social studies teacher, so it feels freer. You know, off topic is off topic. Sometimes school policy. Groundhog Day. Whatever. Tomorrow I will see if I can get them to trash Trump.<BR/><BR/>Oh, nice site. I've blogrolled you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1168090944255695902007-01-06T02:42:00.000-11:002007-01-06T02:42:00.000-11:00I happen to be left-handed. I could see making ki...I happen to be left-handed. I could see making kids aware of what's going on (even if Fox News says it isn't) but I don't think math class is the place for it--it seems more a social studies thing.<BR/><BR/>Of course, I also hated math, so perhaps I shouldn't comment. To me, the whole left-wing thing is about supporting working people, like the kids we teach will grow up and become.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29735096.post-1167947200764425772007-01-04T10:46:00.000-11:002007-01-04T10:46:00.000-11:00I'm considered a liberal by all who know me, but I...I'm considered a liberal by all who know me, but I believe in a very conservative approach to learning math. Thinking is of upmost importance. Analysis of problems is essential. But, nothing takes the place of drill and repetition to learn the basics. Studies have been done to show that US kids lag behind other countries where drill is pushed more than connections to real life math.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com