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pnwmom

(110,328 posts)

13. It wasn't in a textbook, but it was included in worksheets that at least one FL teacher used.

Mon Apr 18, 2022, 03:56 PM

Apr 2022

Why did they use it as an example? Because it is a perfect example of a terrible math problem, and a terrible way to teach about a poet. So it served their purposes.

"The assignment focused on Maya Angelou and her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” It provided an algebra formula that asked: “Angelou was sexually abused by her mother’s ___ at age 8, which shaped her career choices and motivation for writing.” Pennridge High School students needed to solve the formula before deciding whether the answer was boyfriend, brother or father.

"Screenshots of the homework posted by news organizations showed the subsequent question reads: “Trying to support her son as a single mother, she worked as a pimp, prostitute and ___.” Another formula must be solved to determine if the answer was bookie, drug dealer or nightclub dancer.

SNIP

"A similar homework assignment caused controversy in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2015. In that case, a middle school teacher also downloaded the algebra homework from an external website. The district said the veteran teacher didn’t carefully examine the homework and called it an oversight that wouldn’t be repeated."

https://apnews.com/article/5b036a93d7de4dcf82d2fa1a495a4669

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It turns out the example of a math worksheet mixed with Maya Angelou questions is real. [View all] pnwmom Apr 2022 OP

Which textbook in Florida that was removed had those questions? ( n/t ) Make7 Apr 2022 #1

Probably none, since it's been withdrawn everywhere. pnwmom Apr 2022 #5

Makes me wonder why the Press Secretary for the Governor of Florida put that on Twitter. Make7 Apr 2022 #12

It wasn't in a textbook, but it was included in worksheets that at least one FL teacher used. pnwmom Apr 2022 #13

So they are banning textbooks in 2022 over something not in a textbook from 2015? Make7 Apr 2022 #15

They were using it for P.R., obviously. But it was from a real worksheet pnwmom Apr 2022 #17

None. SergeStorms Apr 2022 #7

Right. There was a controversy in Missouri, but the example was from an online worksheet, pnwmom Apr 2022 #14

None, it's a doctored document taken from a free, on-line Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #35

The math puzzle writer has confirmed that the original worksheet contained those questions. pnwmom Apr 2022 #68

Thanks for posting. nt Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #75

I think that has been doctored Nictuku Apr 2022 #2

The original may have been doctored. But the original version--and that whole way of teaching math-- pnwmom Apr 2022 #8

It's a skills practice. Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #30

Life isn't cut up into separate little pieces, but there is nothing real life pnwmom Apr 2022 #39

If it makes math interesting for someone, then what's the harm? nt Gore1FL Apr 2022 #45

It trivializes the poet's life, and does nothing to enhance learning the math pnwmom Apr 2022 #47

If it helps reach one kid or breaks up the monotony of math for someone it's all good. Gore1FL Apr 2022 #60

If it's a waste of time or even confusing for a bunch of others, then it does do harm. pnwmom Apr 2022 #77

I would need to see the author's confirmation. But that's besides the point. Gore1FL Apr 2022 #84

Here is the Buzzfeed link. pnwmom Apr 2022 #85

It's not in a textbook as claimed originally. Gore1FL Apr 2022 #86

Have you ever taught math to kids? nt Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #55

As a mother of three, yes. I found many ways to incorporate math into my children's lives, pnwmom Apr 2022 #58

Trying to keep a classroom of kids engaged in a math Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #62

I don't believe this particular exercise will help, because there is a false connection pnwmom Apr 2022 #63

It's not about a concrete connection. Remember Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #66

Another problem is reverse engineering exboyfil Apr 2022 #81

That's where "and show your work" part comes into play. nt Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #91

It still makes no sense exboyfil Apr 2022 #40

Right. Personal finance examples, climate change examples, gerrymandering examples -- pnwmom Apr 2022 #50

I like it! NH Ethylene Apr 2022 #104

no, there are multiple 'real' versions, Celerity Apr 2022 #53

It was doctored. The original never appeared in a math book and was supplemental curriculum. Beakybird Apr 2022 #3

I'm not posting the doctored version. n/t pnwmom Apr 2022 #6

No, but DeSatan's staffer did, and you said it was real. lagomorph777 Apr 2022 #10

The nutty and abhorrent version is real, according to the person who wrote the puzzle. pnwmom Apr 2022 #69

This message was self-deleted by its author Mariana Apr 2022 #4

Dumb idea dalton99a Apr 2022 #9

Post #2 in this thread says this is fake dpibel Apr 2022 #25

The worksheet is real. The school district apologized: dalton99a Apr 2022 #27

Clint Clark is a moron exboyfil Apr 2022 #41

This is the link to the real one Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #32

That's not the original one. It's a version with the offensive parts edited out. n/t pnwmom Apr 2022 #78

It's the one that's been available for since 2017 on the Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #90

The author has acknowledged the original version. He must have had second thoughts pnwmom Apr 2022 #99

I have to wonder how many of the parents having a fit over Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #102

This is not real. It's a doctored document DeSatan's staff posted. Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #31

I like to use car driving analogies Turbineguy Apr 2022 #11

This cross pollination of subject material was adopted more than twenty years ago. Baitball Blogger Apr 2022 #16

I think this cross-pollination is a dumb idea, actually. It's an especially terrible way to teach pnwmom Apr 2022 #19

Actually, it was a very structured program. Baitball Blogger Apr 2022 #23

I can think of many instances where two subjects can be merged. Mr.Bill Apr 2022 #38

Exactly. De Santis is just strategically removing minority history. Baitball Blogger Apr 2022 #44

This is just a horrible way to teach math exboyfil Apr 2022 #49

I agree. A bit of an over-reach, even if well-intended. n/t Mr.Bill Apr 2022 #51

I guess it is a teaching approach exboyfil Apr 2022 #59

I should have said THIS particular cross-pollination idea. The format didn't lend itself pnwmom Apr 2022 #106

There is nothing "whole" about teaching a poet's life in a series of multiple choice questions pnwmom Apr 2022 #52

It's not really "teaching" about her so much as using her bio to draw students through fishwax Apr 2022 #26

They were using her painful life story as a "hook." It was trivializing the poet and her life's work pnwmom Apr 2022 #54

So much better not to make anyone uncomfortable and not mention it at all. Baitball Blogger Apr 2022 #61

No, it's so much better to use real life math examples. For example, when my daughter pnwmom Apr 2022 #65

I don't recall that you answered my question. Baitball Blogger Apr 2022 #70

Sorry, I didn't notice it. No, we never homeschooled. nt pnwmom Apr 2022 #76

it doesn't trivialize her -- those particular details weren't a good choice because fishwax Apr 2022 #74

But this doesn't get kids interested in actual uses of math OR teach them about poetry. pnwmom Apr 2022 #82

the point is not to teach them about poetry fishwax Apr 2022 #87

If the high school student who needed more math practice knew more about Angelou pnwmom Apr 2022 #88

I mean, that's not really a big deal either, because it's *one* worksheet fishwax Apr 2022 #92

You're wrong that "nobody is saying that kids shouldn't practice math that way." pnwmom Apr 2022 #93

that's a rather different conversation fishwax Apr 2022 #94

Not really. She's famous for saying she never had to learn her multiplication tables pnwmom Apr 2022 #95

I have no idea what that has to do with the conversation about the worksheet fishwax Apr 2022 #96

I don't think ALL math worksheets with non-math content are bad. pnwmom Apr 2022 #98

It is an interdisciplinary approach. NH Ethylene Apr 2022 #105

I can assure you that in the early 60s, Mr.Bill Apr 2022 #34

I didn't realize that the Metric system was invented by God. lagomorph777 Apr 2022 #36

I think he was trying to infer Mr.Bill Apr 2022 #37

Obviously it would depend on how crazy the teacher was exboyfil Apr 2022 #46

He obviously was trying to imply that. lagomorph777 Apr 2022 #103

This message was self-deleted by its author Tommy Carcetti Apr 2022 #18

The AP article doesn't say so. But either way, it's a dumb way to teach about Maya Angelou pnwmom Apr 2022 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author Tommy Carcetti Apr 2022 #21

AP doesn't say what? dpibel Apr 2022 #22

Angelou held many jobs, including some in the sex trade, working as a prostitute and madam for Celerity Apr 2022 #28

And all these discussions are valid in a Literature, History, or Sociology class exboyfil Apr 2022 #42

I agree, I was just confirming the actual history for that poster. Celerity Apr 2022 #43

Right -- because there's no context. It's just mining her bio for eye-opening details pnwmom Apr 2022 #79

I saw it pointed out that if you familiar with her story exboyfil Apr 2022 #80

Right! In my mind, I was automatically answering the questions about her, pnwmom Apr 2022 #83

It was. This is the link to the real one. Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #33

there are different 'real' versions Celerity Apr 2022 #48

Seems it was changed to the current one 5 years ago. nt Phoenix61 Apr 2022 #57

yes (although we do not now the exact date of change), but some schools had the old version Celerity Apr 2022 #72

This message was self-deleted by its author old as dirt Apr 2022 #24

looks like a dual class Tickle Apr 2022 #29

It's a terrible way to teach about the poet Maya Angelou, reducing her life to pnwmom Apr 2022 #56

I was being sarcastic Tickle Apr 2022 #64

You didn't offend me! But your idea is one lots of people are promoting, pnwmom Apr 2022 #67

This may have already been said, and maybe I missed it... NotTodayPutin Apr 2022 #71

I haven't seen the answer to that anywhere. Instead, they released some online worksheet question pnwmom Apr 2022 #73

How fucking weird, inappropriate, and stupid. Wingus Dingus Apr 2022 #89

The outrage still doesn't make sense since they support Trump and Roy Moore JI7 Apr 2022 #97

Example of random rubbish that can be found on the net JCMach1 Apr 2022 #100

This isn't a justification for Florida. But we shouldn't be responding by claiming pnwmom Apr 2022 #101

Exactly, and I think this had mad the RW FB rounds a number of years ago JCMach1 Apr 2022 #107