California wants to deemphasize math because of racial inequity
Zachary Faria 18 hrs ago
California wants to deemphasize math because of racial inequity (msn.com)
California is an anti-racist state, which is why it wants to deemphasize calculus because it doesn’t think minorities can understand it.
This bit of backward logic is the primary takeaway from California’s yearlong battle with math. A draft for the state’s new guidelines was opened for public comment in February. These
guidelines would deemphasize calculus because white and Asian students are overrepresented in calculus classes. It would also deprive students of chances to enter accelerated courses in middle school and suggested that teachers should use math lessons to explore social justice.
You may recall that the events of the film
Stand and Deliver, in which a math teacher creates an AP Calculus powerhouse program at a majority Hispanic high school in Los Angeles, are
based on a true story. But public schools, especially in California, are decidedly less ambitious now. If black and Hispanic students are underrepresented in calculus programs, best to have them just give up on those programs entirely.