Robin's Blog

thedailywhat:

The Intertubes Are Leaking of the Day: Lenape Middle School math teacher Matthew Curran handed out the day’s homework assignment on a sheet of paper that contained a macro plucked directly from the inner recesses of the darkest of 4chan corners. Surprisingly, some parents had a problem with that.

From The Intelligencer:

The mother learned that her son, the only black student in his eighth-grade pre-algebra class at Lenape Middle School, was teased by another student when the assignment was distributed.

“One of the kids in the classroom turned around and said, ‘Is that your father?’ ” she said.

“We are highly insulted and offended. We sent him to school to learn pre-algebra. He should be protected from this stuff, not have it thrown in his face…He gets enough (racial slurs) and negativity from the kids. To have the teacher encourage it?” […]

Curran says he “frequently uses photos and other illustrations on his work sheets to engage the students,” and that he came about this particular image after plugging the phrase “multiply and divide” into Google.

“I chose it because it said ‘no way,’ which is a comment my students make when I require them to show each calculation,” Curran wrote in an e-mail to The Intelligencer. “I had no idea that I might offend anyone. I am very sorry for any distress that this has caused my students and the community.”

I was brought up in this school district.  It’s one of the best in the country.  The teachers are encouraged to be creative.  Sometimes we forget how disastrous it can be if something strays from political correctness in a classroom.