Mathematics Organization Apologizes for Speaker’s Comment That Boys Are at a Disadvantage in K-12 Education
“the way that gender was addressed in the talk was harmful to members of our PME-NA community”
The person who made these comments is right. Boys are not even a consideration and many are getting lost in the process.
Campus Reform reports:
UPDATE: Mathematics organization apologizes for comments made about gender
At a mathematics education conference previously reported by Campus Reform in which numerous scholars pushed for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), one speaker stood out by arguing that boys in particular are at a disadvantage in numerous ways in American K-12 education.
Campus Reform obtained exclusive audio of this presentation.
The conference was hosted at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel by the Psychology of Mathematics Education of North America (PME-NA).
The speaker in question referenced the recent book “Of Boys and Men” by Richard Reeves—a scholar at the Brookings Institution. Quoting the book, the speaker said that “boys are falling behind in school because the educational system is structured in ways that puts them at a disadvantage.”
In regards to gender, the speaker posed the question, “Given current evidence, should we not also reassure boys that they too belong [in STEM-related fields]?”
However, the speaker’s comments on boys’ underperformance and struggles in education prompted a public apology email from PME-NA. The email, written by Dr. Alyson E. Lischka of Middle Tennessee State University, was also obtained by Campus Reform.
It states that the speaker’s presentation “did not exemplify appropriate scholarly inquiry and was counterproductive with respect to PME-NA’s goal of inclusion from the updated PME-NA equity statement, which includes ‘welcoming and making spaces for members of our community that have previously been othered.’”
The email goes on to say that “the way that gender was addressed in the talk was harmful to members of our PME-NA community.”
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Comments
We can only be inclusive to those that have previously been “othered”….there’s no room for those that are currently being “othered”.
Not surprised – math ed departments have been going off the rails for years.
I suppose it is better for the females if the male competition is stamped down. Anything else would be “harming” them by comparison. Boys stay strong! All their social gender-based programs can’t make up for talent!
This is so sad. It’s all Orwellian and decline. I am watching a country that I love die.
Me, too, and I am glad I am old.
The foundation of mathematics is logic. Alas, these DEI propagandists appear rather weak on that subject.
In case anyone is wondering…
— “Dr.” Alyson E. Lischka, does not have a Ph.D. in Mathematics, she has an Ed.D. from Kennesaw State U.
— The MTSU Math website shows 39 faculty. 7 are white males; 18 are females (an accurate rendering of mathematical talent?.