"Slave Math"

            Being a future educator myself I feel the “slave math” could be seen as racially insensitive.  When the teacher made this worksheet she did not take into account how the students or their families may feel about using slavery in math problems.  There is a place for history and a there is a place for math, the two subject do not need to be combined.  Rather than asking “Each tree had 56 oranges.  If 8 slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?”  The question should have just said people.  Using slaves in examples can be seen as degrading to many individuals.  I do not believe the teacher who made the worksheet and the three other teachers that used the worksheet should be fired.  I feel this incident should be used as a learning experience instead.

            Comparing this teaching method to the students reading the fake letter about polygamy and Sharia law does not make sense.  The slave math was seen by many as insensitive and degrading.  The letter was more so used to inform the students of a different culture and lifestyle and have them express how they feel.  In my opinion it should not be seen as degrading.  The “slave math” problems should not have been made up and slavery should have been kept in the history lesson.