California Considers ‘Equitable Math’ Because Goal of Getting Correct Answer is ‘Racist’


By Human Events Staff  |  April 16, 2021

In today’s progressive society, even answering a math problem correctly is racist. 

The California education department is weighing a statewide math framework that perpetuates the idea that working to solve a problem in math is an example of racism and white supremacy in schools. 

The framework, titled “A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction: Dismantling Racism in Mathematics Instruction” would provide “exercises for educators to reflect on their own biases to transform their instructional practice.” 

The website states its training manual was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Breitbart reports. 

“White supremacy culture infiltrates math classrooms in everyday teacher actions,” the document states. “Coupled with the beliefs that underlie these actions, they perpetuate educational harm on Black, Latinx, and multilingual students, denying them full access to the world of mathematics.” 

The framework provides examples of how “white supremacy” takes over math classes. 

Per Breitbart: 

  • The focus is on getting the “right answer
  • Independent practice is valued over teamwork or collaboration
  • “Real-world math” is valued over math in the real world
  • Students are tracked (into courses/pathways and within the classroom)
  • Participation structures reinforce dominant ways of being

The document identifies the ways teachers perpetuate white supremacy in their assessments. 

  • Students are required to “show their work” 
  • Grading practices are focused on lack of knowledge
  • Language acquisition is equated with mathematical proficiency 

“These common practices that perpetuate white supremacy culture create and sustain institutional and systemic barriers to equity for Black, Latinx, and Multilingual students. In order to dismantle these barriers, we must identify what it means to be an antiracist math educator,” the framework continues. 

“In order to embody antiracist math education, teachers must engage in critical praxis that interrogates the way in which they perpetuate white supremacy culture in their own classrooms, and develop a plan toward antiracist math education to address issues of equity,” it adds.

If you thought critical race theory is the worst it could get, you clearly thought wrong. 

Join the Conversation

1 Comment

  1. Dear Human Events Staff

    Very interesting. Of course there is no such thing as racism as we are all part of the human race, but the Left likes to ‘conveniently’ forget this. I have written about racism on my site.

    There is tribalism, nationalism even family-ism. Certainly crony-ism. Just not racism, unless we are dealing with aliens, another race entirely, and not just strangers, human people whom we don’t know.

    Many thanks for your article.

    Kind regards

    Baldmichael

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *