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> That's not a problem for teaching, since the output of teaching is homogeneous (and is defined by the syllabus). The syllabus is typically defined politicall

> That's not a problem for teaching, since the output of teaching is homogeneous (and is defined by the syllabus). The syllabus is typically defined politically, which is anything but homegeneous. In fact, pretty much everything surrounding the teacher is defined by politics, which makes it a huge problem. Until we're mature enough to get rid of the politics surrounding the teaching of even core subjects, like science, we're screwed. And I don't blame the teachers one bit for walking away.

yummyfajitas 14y ago
The syllabus is typically defined politically, which is anything but homegeneous. Please look up the definition of homogeneous - being defined politically has nothing to do with it. All calc 1 classes are the same, and some politician demanding that pi=3 doesn't change this.
- drivingmenuts 14y ago
  Fortunately, math hasn't been caught up in the same horse manure that science, history and language instruction have been, all of which have ongoing political surroundings. Additionally, the modern teacher has to deal with and put up with rather a lot of things that aren't directly related to their subject areas, but are politically determined. FYI, denotatively, homogenous and homegeneous have different meanings. Connotatively, they are somewhat interchangeable. I suggest you look up the meaning of "thesaurus" and "pedantic". Or skip that and ask yourself, did you understand what I meant?
  - yummyfajitas 14y ago
    I didn't notice you used a different word (and one that isn't in the dictionary, no less). At this point I concede that I have no idea what you meant. I do agree with you that people who dislike politics should not work for the government (which is, by it's very nature, political).
    - deleted 14y ago
      [deleted]
johnrgrace 14y ago
What you teach is INCREDIBLY political. My mother had to have a multiple meetings with her principle because as a 2nd grade teacher, with a biology degree, when one of her students asked about bird beaks when watching birds eat from a feeder she mentioned evolution. The school wants to keep evolution safely inside the 10th grade biology course where you can send in a note to skip it. Without tenure, for have a factual enriching conversation with her students she would have been fired. She's going to retire soon, and is worried about teaching because "her generation" only went into it because they didn't fight to get what at the time were men's jobs. Today a 4.0 college grad with a biology degree would never teach 2nd grade.

yummyfajitas 14y ago

The syllabus is typically defined politically, which is anything but homegeneous. Please look up the definition of homogeneous - being defined politically has nothing to do with it. All calc 1 classes are the same, and some politician demanding that pi=3 doesn't change this.

drivingmenuts 14y ago
Fortunately, math hasn't been caught up in the same horse manure that science, history and language instruction have been, all of which have ongoing political surroundings. Additionally, the modern teacher has to deal with and put up with rather a lot of things that aren't directly related to their subject areas, but are politically determined. FYI, denotatively, homogenous and homegeneous have different meanings. Connotatively, they are somewhat interchangeable. I suggest you look up the meaning of "thesaurus" and "pedantic". Or skip that and ask yourself, did you understand what I meant?
- yummyfajitas 14y ago
  I didn't notice you used a different word (and one that isn't in the dictionary, no less). At this point I concede that I have no idea what you meant. I do agree with you that people who dislike politics should not work for the government (which is, by it's very nature, political).
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]

johnrgrace 14y ago

What you teach is INCREDIBLY political. My mother had to have a multiple meetings with her principle because as a 2nd grade teacher, with a biology degree, when one of her students asked about bird beaks when watching birds eat from a feeder she mentioned evolution. The school wants to keep evolution safely inside the 10th grade biology course where you can send in a note to skip it. Without tenure, for have a factual enriching conversation with her students she would have been fired. She's going to retire soon, and is worried about teaching because "her generation" only went into it because they didn't fight to get what at the time were men's jobs. Today a 4.0 college grad with a biology degree would never teach 2nd grade.