Parents in a Massachusetts school district are expressing their dissatisfaction with a decision made to eliminate advanced math classes for middle school students due to noticeable racial disparities within the program.
A Noticeable Pattern
Cambridge Public Schools observed that a significant majority of students in advanced math tracks were White and Asian, while the lower-level classes were predominantly made up of Black and Latino students. The shift in policy, along with additional complications brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to none of the district’s four middle schools offering Algebra I.
Not the Right Decision
Parents are concerned that the decision will perpetuate inequalities by limiting advanced math to those who can afford private tutors. Jacob Barandes, a parent within the district and a physicist from Harvard, said: “’The students who are able to jump into a higher level math class [in high school] are students from better-resourced backgrounds. They’re shortchanging a significant number of students, overwhelmingly students from less-resourced backgrounds, which is deeply inequitable.”
Hindering Academic Progress
Martin Udengaard, another parent, is taking his son out of the district and considering homeschooling him or enrolling him in a private institution. Without early exposure to Algebra I, students may face challenges in pursuing advanced math courses, which could potentially hinder their academic progress and opportunities in the long run.
The District Released a Statement
The school district released a statement. It said: “Cambridge Public Schools is deeply committed to providing a high-quality, rigorous learning experience for all of our students, while also placing a strong focus on addressing the academic achievement and opportunity gaps in our community.”
The Statement Continued
The statement continued and the district discussed future plans. It said: “We are in the process of developing an equitable plan with great thought and intentionality that establishes a level of mathematics literacy required for full participation and access to opportunities. Three of the seven units covered in Algebra I will be added to the curriculum next year. We look forward to sharing details of this expansion in the near future.”
Melania Trump and Dr. Seuss
This isn’t the first time Cambridge Public Schools has attracted attention. Previously, a school librarian rejected a donation of Dr. Seuss books from Melania Trump on the basis that they contained racial stereotypes. The district clarified that the librarian’s post reflected her personal opinion and not an official acceptance or rejection of the donation.
The Internet Responded
The story was shared across social media and opinions were divided. One individual wrote: “I was fully against this at first but then I looked into it a bit more and it does make sense. I don’t know if it’s the right solution but I do get where they’re coming from with this.”
Others Weren’t So Understanding
A fair few people weren’t as understanding as the aforementioned commenter. One person wrote: “Awful idea and I say this as a big believer in public schooling – and as a public school teacher. As a student, I was abjectly miserable every time I wasn’t in an accelerated class. My daughters feel the same way now.”
It Increases Disparities
Others reiterated that the move would divide the working class and the middle class. “It just increases the disparities further since now only people who can afford private schools can take advanced classes,” one commenter said. Another individual sarcastically wrote: “Instead of helping the lower performing students, let’s harm all the students to decrease the disparities between them.”
The Dumbing Down of America
Others claimed the move would ensure future generations are behind the rest of the world. One person said: “So instead of offering tutoring to the kids that are having a hard time, they’re going to take away learning skills from the students that don’t need extra help. Dumbing down America so future generations won’t be able to compete in the world.”
Falling Behind Other Countries
Others echoed the aforementioned commenter. “Absolutely ridiculous. No wonder we’re falling behind other countries,” one person wrote. “In terms of education, we’ve been behind other countries for a very long time. Lots of other countries don’t split students by ability at all. A lot of places see it as detrimental,” another replied.
Others Had Questionable Suggestions
Some suggestions were questionable, given that the students in the lower-level courses were predominantly Black and Latino. “Test the students and if they can’t keep on grade level, send them to trade school. That way, the ones working toward smart futures won’t suffer from students unable to keep up,” one person wrote. “Actually, I think more trade schools are an excellent idea. Not everyone is going to be a doctor or a lawyer but everyone needs to have skills enough to make a living,” another replied.
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