Slavery Probably Not the Best Subject for Third-Grade Math Word Problems [Bad Ideas]

While we admire the clear desire for efficient pedagogy displayed by teachers at Beaver Ridge Elementary in Norcross, Ga., we can’t help but feel that there is probably a better history lesson to include in math problems than “slavery,” or maybe a better way to teach students about slavery than by providing them with questions like “Each tree had 56 oranges. If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?” (For the record: seven.) More »