How big a deal is this?

[Opti1]

Would like the neighborhood's perspective as to whether or not you think this is a big deal. One teacher resigned, no word on the others.

Unforgivable?

'Slavery' Math Problems Fallout Prompts Ga. Teacher To Resign

[soccer6]

Fireable offense?  Not in my opinion.

Reprimand-able?  Probably.

I wasn't offended by the text.  I very torn on this, because if they're studying slavery in history, isn't it a good thing to tie math to the lessons?  But again, I do see how folks can see it was insensitive.  I think too much as been made of it.

[J. Grouchy]

Honestly, I'm not even sure what to make of it.  While in that context it didn't seem to be any sort of endorsement or support of slavery, it baffles me as to why the teacher would even go there given the sensitive and deplorable nature of the subject...as if they are making light of the issue of slavery.

[Gmoney]

Talked with a friend who is a teacher about this last weekend...

According to him, teachers are highly encouraged to tie material in one subject to that in another subject.  By repeatedly exposing students to the same information/concepts, they feel it improves retention.

That's all these teachers were doing (I believe I read somewhere that the math problems were tied to other lessons about Frederick Douglas).  Taken out of context, it looks horrible, but frankly, I don't think the teachers did anything wrong...at least not enough to lose their jobs over.  But when a story like this hits the media, heads gotta roll...

[Opti1]

Grouch, I think this article only gave part of the story, as soccer alluded to. They were in the midst of a study of Frederick Douglass and the math problems were meant to tie into their history lesson (constructivism, as I understand it).

[Edited to say: 'what he said'.]

[J. Grouchy]

Grouch, I think this article only gave part of the story, as soccer alluded to. They were in the midst of a study of Frederick Douglass and the math problems were meant to tie into their history lesson (constructivism, as I understand it).

So were these math problems children might have been asked to solve in the 1850s?  Seems like math doesn't naturally tie in to a history lesson like that...seems forced.

[The Lord of the Jungle]

I'm with Grouchy on this.  Common sense trumps educational dogma.  Why not "Douglass prints five newspapers on Sunday, and sells three on Monday..."  And imagine what the teachers might have come up with if they'd been studying the holocaust?
 
Not convinced the teachers in question should have resigned, but I think a rigorous training session with EVERYONE involved would have been a good idea.

[Gmoney]

Grouch, I think this article only gave part of the story, as soccer alluded to. They were in the midst of a study of Frederick Douglass and the math problems were meant to tie into their history lesson (constructivism, as I understand it).

So were these math problems children might have been asked to solve in the 1850s?  Seems like math doesn't naturally tie in to a history lesson like that...seems forced.

How can you be so obtuse?

Yes, it's forced.  Yeah, those specific problems were a bit dumb.  There's probably a reason Georgia public schools rank in the upper 40's in the nation.  That said, these teachers were pretty much doing what they were told to do, albeit in a pretty stupid way.

[Leah]

Yes teachers are supposed to tie in the subjects but good lord, how can those teachers be that dumb and insensitive!? Idk about what disciplinary action should or should not be taken bc I'm still shocked at the stupidiy.

[Maru32]

http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/gwinnett-teacher-who-resigned-1309205.html

Gwinnett teacher who resigned apologizes for writing slavery-themed questions

A Gwinnett schools investigation found former Beaver Ridge Elementary School teacher Luis Rivera was the author of a third-grade homework assignment that used slave beatings to teach math concepts.

In a statement to school officials obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday, Rivera, a teacher at the school since August 2008, apologized and said some of the questions he wrote were in “poor taste.”

Rivera’s 20-question homework assignment used slave beatings and picking cotton to link lessons about ex-slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass to math computation. One of the problems read: “If Frederick got two beatings per day, how many beatings did he get in one week?”

Rivera told officials he was following the district’s curriculum, which asks that teachers explain what Douglass had to overcome to succeed and become a hero.

Gwinnett County Public Schools officials said the assignment did not undergo a content review before it was distributed to more than 100 students.

“I did not write those questions with the intent of being malicious or offensive,” Rivera said in his statement. “I wrote poorly written questions in an attempt to enhance student achievement. I have brought shame to my family, and my school. For that, I cannot apologize enough.”

Rivera resigned from his $39,170-a-year job on Jan. 13, citing "personal reasons."

According to the Gwinnett schools investigative file, Christina Bartolo was the grade level chair who did not review the homework before it was distributed to students. It was used in four classrooms: Rivera’s, Bartolo’s, and those of teachers Deserae Moore and Maricary Garcia-Carrero.

Five other third-grade teachers did not use the assignment.

Rivera, who has a bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University, said that all involved  “immediately felt remorse and embarrassment” when complaints started coming in.

Beaver Ridge teachers are asked to create cross-curricular assignments and assessments and Rivera said he was attempting to do so.

“As a minority myself, I understand the trials and tribulations associated with being a minority,” he wrote. “There was no intent to harm, or to offend. Rather, I was trying to make connections for the students, while completing my assignment of cross-curricular integration.”

The homework assignment also had questions about Mary McLeod Bethune, Susan B. Anthony and Paul Revere.

Bartolo, Moore and Garcia-Carrero received "letters of direction" from school officials ordering them to follow school rules or face disciplinary action, including termination, in the future.

Some parents of Beaver Ridge students who received the assignment asked that counseling be made available for kids.

At a Gwinnett school board business meeting Thursday, Henry White, who does not have children, called the incident an "egregious act of assault on the minds of a kid by an adult" and also recommended counseling.

Beaver Ridge Principal Jose DeJesus is moving quickly to replace Rivera with an educator who has worked as a long-term substitute.

[J. Grouchy]

Some parents of Beaver Ridge students who received the assignment asked that counseling be made available for kids.

At a Gwinnett school board business meeting Thursday, Henry White, who does not have children, called the incident an "egregious act of assault on the minds of a kid by an adult" and also recommended counseling.

Seriously?  Counseling?  "Egregious act of assault"?? 


Wow...

[Cap'n Ken]

Some parents of Beaver Ridge students who received the assignment asked that counseling be made available for kids.

At a Gwinnett school board business meeting Thursday, Henry White, who does not have children, called the incident an "egregious act of assault on the minds of a kid by an adult" and also recommended counseling.

Seriously?  Counseling?  "Egregious act of assault"?? 


Wow...

Henry White, who does not have children

The Steve Carr of Gwinnett School Board meetings?

[Gmoney]

Some parents of Beaver Ridge students who received the assignment asked that counseling be made available for kids.

At a Gwinnett school board business meeting Thursday, Henry White, who does not have children, called the incident an "egregious act of assault on the minds of a kid by an adult" and also recommended counseling.

Seriously?  Counseling?  "Egregious act of assault"?? 


Wow...

How else are they going to sue the school district if they don't blow this way out of proportion?

[T@B]

Some parents of Beaver Ridge students who received the assignment asked that counseling be made available for kids.

At a Gwinnett school board business meeting Thursday, Henry White, who does not have children, called the incident an "egregious act of assault on the minds of a kid by an adult" and also recommended counseling.

Seriously?  Counseling?  "Egregious act of assault"?? 


Wow...

Henry White, who does not have children

The Steve Carr of Gwinnett School Board meetings?

     Seriously need a like button.