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As William Faulkner once said, "The past is not dead. It's not even past."
posted by Mr. Carlisle at 7:36 PM
Sunday, January 08, 2012
About Me
- Name: Mr. Carlisle
- Location: Portland, Oregon, United States
I'm a native South Carolinian and I attained my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina. I taught fourth grade for two years in the Mississippi Delta and two years at an alternative high school in Western North Carolina. I have been at Tigard High School since the fall of 2003, where I teach U.S. History and Psychology.
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24 Comments:
I feel like the blending of curriculi should be done a little less... offensively. Slavery was definately a dark part of America's history and I think we need to learn about it in order to avoid the thought process of "America is so perfect and we don't do anything wrong cuz we're awesome". I just doin't think we should be teaching 8 year olds how many beatings poor Frederick got in a day, especially in math class! How out of context can you get? A kid could be learning about math and then start crying because he feels some sympathy for Frederick! Not a very productive way to learn your arithmetic.
9:38 PM
Thanks for taking the time to check out the story and post a comment Tristy.
9:41 PM
In my opinion, this is down right outrageous and the teachers who thought they were blending different curriculum need to face the consequences. It's important to be aware of America's history, but talking about beatings in a 3rd graders homework is ridiculous. And why would you even incorporate slavery in math? I just feel like it's wrong and offensive. And the journalist was right, there was no historical context given. The questions could be construed in so many different ways.
10:17 PM
I definitely saw this on the news tonight! I completely agree with what Tristy said about the blending of curriculum being done less. I have a brother who's in third grade right now and learning about slavery isn't even in any of their curriculum. I don't think I actually learned about slavery until eighth grade and in depth until this year. I do think that learning about slavery is very important, especially since it had a large part to do with America's history but through math? Really? I feel like it would only make math 100 times less enjoyable than it already is.
10:19 PM
Shoving historical references into elementary school arithmetic problems seems pointless and ineffectual. Children won't gain a better understanding of any historical topic or event by having to read poorly implemented references taken out of their historical context.
Due to the lack of historical context, the problems came off as callous when dealing with a topic that should have been handled more sensitively.
However, I am not one to argue that blending curricula is necessarily a bad idea. While it was poorly executed in this case, there could be benefits if it is properly done in the right situations. Theory of Knowledge is an adequate example of this, as it draws upon information that falls under different areas in order to explore epistemological quandaries and limitations.
5:01 AM
Thats so bad. I doubt that those math problems were designed to be a blending of classes. I do think the school should thin their staff a little though.
3:47 PM
Slavery is definetly a sensitive topic to talk about, especially since America has a mix of different races, including African American. By trying to include such a sensitive topic into a math problem emphasizes that racism still simmers in America today. The math problem was incredibly racist; talking about how much physical abuse Frederick had to deal with per day. I agree with Tristy, this is not a very positive approach for children to learn their arithmetic.
4:29 PM
I feel like the blending of curriculms should have been done with a different class. Not through math. Slavery was a horrible part of Americans and African American history and should not be brought up that way in a math class. And I don't remember learning about slavery in 3rd grade, but that's just me. The questions they put on that homework sheet were extremely ofensive and I hope that the teachers and school staff does something to stop this from happening again.
4:32 PM
Okay, seriously, third graders? I'm sure they understand slavery was bad but I don't think they needed to talk about beatings with them. And I think blending curriculums could confuse them because most people think of math problems as made up stories and such.
5:24 PM
I wish the reporters didn't have to remain seemingly unsided while on camera, because if they asked the district official what was actually on their mind, their point may have been just a little more clear.
That said, this is ridiculous. Kids should know about things like slavery to keep them from further displaying ignorance of American youth, but this teacher needs to go back to teaching school, because that was definitely the wrong way to do it.
5:45 PM
I don't know what the teachers thought the third graders would be getting out of blending curriculum for multiplication problems. It only confuses the kids more, considering that slavery is a little more complex than counting the number of beatings per day and how many oranges each slave can pick. I feel bad for the parents that have to explain to their children about something they shouldn't have to learn until later, when they are older and can understand the whole situation and time in history.
7:02 PM
I think the teacher's just a little off to think that third graders should be doing math problems about slavery, a topic they probably had barely even known much about. I think slavery, and how horrible it was is one of those things teachers wait to teach kids about for a reason, and incorporating slavery with math curriculum of all things is probably the worst way to teach kids two things at once.
7:19 PM
There's absolutely no sort of preface to these math problems; if there was at least that, then teachers could actually be teaching children both subjects. As it is, aside from them covering an extremely touchy subject, they are not even doing a good job at teaching the subject. Additionally, I agree with Christian. Its impractical to believe that children will actually absorb this knowledge at their age. It's was just an ineffectual waste of time.
9:11 PM
I agree with Christian that blending curriculum would be a really good teaching style especially for youngsters. But on the topic of slavery?! That is a sensitive area of American history, and should not have been integrated into math, especially in this manner. I remember when I was in 3rd grade, I had no idea what the Civil War was, or anything about history. That being said, it is astounding that the teachers in this district would do such a thing.
9:37 PM
Teacher be craycray. About sums it up
9:37 PM
This is ridiculous! If they want to cross curriculums they should do math and science or math and English. They shouldn’t have brought in slavery. I really would like to know what the teachers were thinking when they wrote this.
10:06 PM
I feel for the dads and moms who had to explain this to their kids and the horrors of the past.
10:23 PM
The questions don't even teach the children anything, exept that slaves pick apples. If the teachers are going to try to mix curriclulums, they should do more than just mention the cooperating curriculum.
11:53 PM
What a great way to teach history Mr. Carlisle. You should take tips from those people.
8:03 AM
Honestly I think in a way it was a smart idea to blend in two curriculims in one, but at the same time the way this teachers did it was very unacceptable! It kinda makes me think the teachers where very racist. I also wanted to ask, do they really teach about slavery in third grade because I dont remember learning about it???
P.s I finally got internet!!! lol
8:06 PM
Hey, its killing two birds with one stone..just kidding! where was the teachers judgement when he or she was making the "math" assignment. There are some lines you just don't cross, especially when little kids are involved.
5:05 PM
"We agree that these questions were not appropriate." -Spokeswoman .... Then, um, why were they used?! First of all, we should not be exposing 8-year-old children to the horrors of America's abusive past. That should be saved for high school, when they can watch Roots. :D Secondly, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD WRITE SUCH A QUESTION?! We don't need "historical context" (if that's what it is....) in that sense in a third grade math class. Or in any class for that matter. That is just downright racist. Is it illegal to punch that teacher? Because I sort of want to.
5:28 PM
I would only be repeating things if i said my opinion on this idiotic event with evidence to prove my point however I find it intriguing that they all assumed the slaves were american slaves, when social studys is wold wide category...or they did notice and the news was just riling people up with the implications of it.
5:43 PM
One probably shouldn't talk about sensitive topics casually. It illustrates a lack of respect for the people who were harmed. Imagine if those math problems were about torture or death. That example makes it clear what the problem is.
10:14 PM
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