West on the West

[Doctor Steuss]

Kish, as always, thank you for being so generous with your knowledge and expertise in this field (both the subjects themselves, and the broader cultural significance and happenings). I always learn something new, and/or find myself with a richer and more broad perspective than I had before.

[Res Ipsa]

Well most Greek philosophers did own slaves. And if I remember right, you had to reach a certain proficiency in mathematics before you could move on to philosophy in ancient Greek society. I doubt such a program is going to work out for a place like Howard University, where the idea of right and wrong answers to a mathematical problem are viewed as an example of systemic white supremacy and evidence of anti black racial discrimination by the faculty.

This isn’t a Howard U issue. What you’re referring to is an approach looked at by some Oregon and Seattle school districts. How did you manage to conflate that with a University on the other side of the country?

And, you already know that your statement about the program you’re referencing isn’t true, because the subject has been discussed in depth in threads months ago.

There is no attempt to assert that the idea of right and wrong answers to a mathematical problem are viewed as an example of systemic white supremacy. Rather, the approach you’re referencing refers to incorporating multiple ways of getting to the right answer, by including methods outside of traditional Western approaches, if that benefits students. In other words, there’s a reimagining of process.

Per the publication:

“There is a greater focus on getting the "right" answer than understanding concepts and reasoning.”

See page 38, or 66, or many others in this document:

https://equitablemath.org/wp-content/up ... TRIDE1.pdf

Thanks, Canpakes. I’m not one to stalk Ajax around the forum, calling him a racist. But his comment is one of the most overly racist things I’ve seen posted in a long time.

[Res Ipsa]

Great thread. Great thoughts, Kishkumen.

I agree with you. I see things similarly.

I think this is an example where the subject is unnecessarily politicized and polarized. I also think that the process of being a republic is more important than the outcome of any individual or unique issue. What you are describing with the departments, is sad. It seems that the process of the republic, the history of the republic and the foundation of an educated constituency is less relevant than someone’s immediate feelings or shame.

It is weird. Good luck.

I agree with you on the unnecessary politicization and polarization. But I’m not sure I’m understanding what you mean by “process of the republic.” Would you mind unpacking that a bit?

[ajax18]

Thanks, Canpakes. I’m not one to stalk Ajax around the forum, calling him a racist. But his comment is one of the most overly racist things I’ve seen posted in a long time.

If you think what I said was racist then you're wrong. I actually don't believe there is anything about a black person's mental capacity that limits him from doing calculus, geometry, or analyzing classical literature. I simply observed the fact that if you carry the attitude that math and western thought is systemically racist and therefore needs to be cancelled from the curriculum, you're probably not ever going to be capable of understanding such things even if you had the mental capacity to do so. Yeah, maybe it was an Oregon high school that made "Math is White Surpremacy," part of their standard curriculum and not Howard U. But I think I'm pretty safe in my bet that many of the faculty, staff, and ruling administration at Howard hold similar attitudes.

But anyway, I apologize for speaking up and potentially spoiling an excellent post by Kishkumen. I'll now shut up and watch you liberals self destruct.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

… and watch you liberals self destruct.

Xanax is the epitome of self-destruction. Nazis - defeated. Confederacy - defeated. January 6th insurrections - modded. Projection isn’t just a river in Egypt, brah.

- Doc

[canpakes]

If you think what I said was racist then you're wrong. I actually don't believe there is anything about a black person's mental capacity that limits him from doing calculus, geometry, or analyzing classical literature.

The problem is that if you perpetuate a false narrative by misrepresenting what’s really going on, you end up promoting racist attitudes and reactions.

It’s not like you haven’t already been in a discussion about this program before, where you made the same claim and were corrected at that time.

[Res Ipsa]

Thanks, Canpakes. I’m not one to stalk Ajax around the forum, calling him a racist. But his comment is one of the most overly racist things I’ve seen posted in a long time.

If you think what I said was racist then you're wrong. I actually don't believe there is anything about a black person's mental capacity that limits him from doing calculus, geometry, or analyzing classical literature. I simply observed the fact that if you carry the attitude that math and western thought is systemically racist and therefore needs to be cancelled from the curriculum, you're probably not ever going to be capable of understanding such things even if you had the mental capacity to do so. Yeah, maybe it was an Oregon high school that made "Math is White Surpremacy," part of their standard curriculum and not Howard U. But I think I'm pretty safe in my bet that many of the faculty, staff, and ruling administration at Howard hold similar attitudes.

But anyway, I apologize for speaking up and potentially spoiling an excellent post by Kishkumen. I'll now shut up and watch you liberals self destruct.

It was racist because you falsely assumed that black students were too stupid or lazy to do math correctly and that a traditional black university was covering for them by playing the race card. You tapped in to all the stereotypes that white Americans have used for centuries to hold black folks in contempt: stupid, lazy, irresponsible. It wasn’t subtle, Ajax. It was racist as hell.

[Kishkumen]

Kish, as always, thank you for being so generous with your knowledge and expertise in this field (both the subjects themselves, and the broader cultural significance and happenings). I always learn something new, and/or find myself with a richer and more broad perspective than I had before.

Thank you, Doctor Steuss. I think a lot of people mean well and try to make a positive difference. How best to do that is always a difficult question. It is when we fight over the how and get paralyzed that those who resist the good find a lot of unwitting allies.

[Philo Sofee]

Thanks, Canpakes. I’m not one to stalk Ajax around the forum, calling him a racist. But his comment is one of the most overly racist things I’ve seen posted in a long time.

If you think what I said was racist then you're wrong. I actually don't believe there is anything about a black person's mental capacity that limits him from doing calculus, geometry, or analyzing classical literature. I simply observed the fact that if you carry the attitude that math and western thought is systemically racist and therefore needs to be cancelled from the curriculum, you're probably not ever going to be capable of understanding such things even if you had the mental capacity to do so. Yeah, maybe it was an Oregon high school that made "Math is White Surpremacy," part of their standard curriculum and not Howard U. But I think I'm pretty safe in my bet that many of the faculty, staff, and ruling administration at Howard hold similar attitudes.

But anyway, I apologize for speaking up and potentially spoiling an excellent post by Kishkumen. I'll now shut up and watch you liberals self destruct.

Liberals have been self destructing now for the last 10,900 years since the founding of ancient Goebekli Tepi in Turkey. It'd be nice if they finally accomplished that wouldn't it.......

[Philo Sofee]

Kish, as always, thank you for being so generous with your knowledge and expertise in this field (both the subjects themselves, and the broader cultural significance and happenings). I always learn something new, and/or find myself with a richer and more broad perspective than I had before.

Thank you, Doctor Steuss. I think a lot of people mean well and try to make a positive difference. How best to do that is always a difficult question. It is when we fight over the how and get paralyzed that those who resist the good find a lot of unwitting allies.

I too always enjoy your posts Kish. I was so close to getting into academia for a living, and so I see your frustration and real terror of none of us actually being able to do a lot about making actual education come back into the lives of our kids and grandchildren. The world has gotten far too greedy, imagining money answers all things, when that myth is almost as bald faced a lie as Russell M. Nelson prophesying daily about the nature of the world is...