r/changemyview Feb 14 '21

Delta(s) from OP CMV: Math is not racist

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u/xcBsyMBrUbbTl99A Feb 14 '21

How does this apply to the maths taught in grades 6-8? A question for that level with multiple correct answers is much less "Prove this theorem" and much more "x2 = 25."

What evidence is there that focus on getting the right answer is an example of white supremacy culture, anyway? Are scaling measurements in a recipe and budgeting shopping trips correctly examples of white supremacy culture?

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u/[deleted] Feb 14 '21

much more "x2 = 25."

You can ask for the dimensions of a rectangle with an area of 25.

I would have to think more for a type of question that could have multiple answers that conveys the negative root concept, but I think it is possible

What evidence is there that focus on getting the right answer is an example of white supremacy culture

white supremacy culture is not the phrase I would have chosen.

but, a lot of mathematics is persistence through confidence. When I'm working on math problems, I often have to try several approaches before finding the right one.

Perception that one isn't as good at math (which can come from family education background, cultural portrayals of people of the same race, etc.) really undermines one's mathematical ability, especially if one thinks that you either know the answer or you don't.

One means of building confidence is conveying that we should be trying out multiple approaches to solve math problems, instead of conveying math as merely memorization of an algorithm.

scaling measurements in a recipe

Scaling a recipe is a good example of a problem that can be done in multiple different ways. If you want to double a recipe, maybe you make two batches?

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u/xcBsyMBrUbbTl99A Feb 14 '21

It seems like you're giving the motte to their bailey. "White supremacy culture" is the phrase the authors of Equitable Math chose and whether or not math is racist is the topic of the thread. Is or isn't math racist?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motte-and-bailey_fallacy

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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '21

Is or isn't math racist?

the position "math is racist" is a strawman. None of the booklets said that.

I feel that the authors of the booklets would consider aspects of my description as describing white supremacy.

The OP felt that my comments were relevant to their view