Who knew math problems could be so controversial? Well, they are if you happen to live in Georgia. Parents of students at Beaver Ridge Elementary School in Norcross were outraged at the slavery references in math problems, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Consider this: "Each tree had 56 oranges. If 8 slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?" and "If Frederick got two beatings per day, how many beatings did he get in 1 week?"
Although slavery is entrenched in the Deep South's history, parents argue that it need not rear its ugly head in elementary school math. Apparently the culprit isn't some old outmoded textbook, either; it's the teachers themselves who came up with the lessons, trying to incorporate social studies into simple math problems as a "cross-curricular activity." The school insists it was a case of poor judgement, nothing more.
"Something like shouldn't be embedded into a kid of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, any grade," said parent Terrance Barnett. "I'm having to explain to my 8-year-old why slavery or slaves or beatings are in a math problem. That hurts."
There are plenty of potential lessons out there to teach our kids about racism. Clearly this isn't the way to go about it. But do you think it's too early for elementary school kids to learn about slavery?
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