With different definitions and axioms, purple can be green. Elvis can be Madonna. Literally any symbol/number/letter can represent anything, if we define it thus. The reason this is coming up is b/c conventional definitions in the West are... ‘Western’, thus oppressive.
-
-
Replying to @CanuckPlucky @borrfdad and
It goes like this. There is a push to bring ‘ethnic studies’ into math curriculum. Like this: https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/socialstudies/pubdocs/Math%20SDS%20ES%20Framework.pdf … This is because ‘conventional’ math is ‘western’. It tends, therefore, oppressive & racist. So goes the argument.
3 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @CanuckPlucky @borrfdad and
So, in order to justify this approach, other ‘ways of knowing’ need to be seen as equally important to learn. If we want to replace western (oppressive) math, then we should teach aboriginal methods, etc. Except we live in the West. Everyone uses base-10. It IS the convention.
3 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @CanuckPlucky @borrfdad and
So people argue with statements like 2+2=4, as a way to show that ‘conventional’ math isn’t teaching properly, or useful, or valid. Because it doesn’t cover all these *other* ways of knowing! But the other ‘ways of knowing’ are not new or different information.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @CanuckPlucky @borrfdad and
The 2+2=5 examples are simply different languages. The symbols look the same, but they have different definitions, therefore different meanings. It is not a ‘new way of knowing’, but simply a different language.
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @CanuckPlucky @borrfdad and
It’s like reading the word ‘barf’ and saying ‘but that means ‘snow’ in Farsi! You’re excluding all the Farsi people when you teach it with the English meaning. We need to look at Farsi when learning English.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @CanuckPlucky @borrfdad and
It’s not that learning Farsi (or base 3) are wrong. It’s that it’s not the convention, so it’s basically a waste of time and effort, for the sole purpose of feeling ‘inclusive’.
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @CanuckPlucky @borrfdad and
Okay so you're basically saying that it's too much effort to be smart so it's better to be stupid
1 reply 1 retweet 26 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @CanuckPlucky and
No one is saying that small children need to all spend the time and effort required to be bilingual in English and Farsi But becoming conversant with the *concept of multiple languages* is absolutely vital, yes
1 reply 1 retweet 26 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @CanuckPlucky and
A kid isn't fully educated if they don't fully grok the concept that there's nothing inherently funny about the syllable "barf" just because it means one thing in English and a different thing in a different language
1 reply 1 retweet 19 likes
This isn't about being "sensitive" or "not hurting people's feelings" this is about *not being stupid* Or, as we call it, cultural competence You are advocating *being stupid* (being completely used to one particular system of symbols and unable to think on a level above them)
-
-
Replying to @arthur_affect @CanuckPlucky and
It is very easy to be stupid, Americans in particular who rarely get challenged on matters of cultural competence are particularly prone to it -- "I don't have an accent, I talk normally" -- and it is in the long run very dangerous and very harmful
2 replies 4 retweets 29 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @CanuckPlucky and
Reminds me of that aboriginal language which has no concept of left and right when it comes to giving directions to a location. It has 4 cardinal compass directions instead. People who speak it are much better in orientation and map use when tested. Because it becomes 2nd nature.
1 reply 2 retweets 15 likes - Show replies
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.