Slavery in the news: Georgia school’s controversial “slavery” math question

Here’s a surprising story that was in the news this week: Atlanta, Georgia. Third graders were presented with a math assignment with questions about slavery. Reports say that these questions were an attempt to “integrate social studies and math lessons.” But the result seems to be more offensive than educational. For instance, one assignment question […]
January 11, 2012

Here’s a surprising story that was in the news this week: Atlanta, Georgia. Third graders were presented with a math assignment with questions about slavery. Reports say that these questions were an attempt to “integrate social studies and math lessons.” But the result seems to be more offensive than educational. For instance, one assignment question was literally: “Each tree had 56 oranges. If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?” The NAACP is calling for the teachers to be fired. The school district spokesperson says they are “looking at what human resources actions may be taken.”

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