A "Meth" Math problem - what do you think should have been done?
By shywolf
@shywolf (4514)
United States
February 12, 2007 10:42am CST
A question on a math test given by a teacher at Moriarty High School included a fictional "Meth" (drug) dealer. The school is declining to say whether any disciplinary action will be taken, but the teacher has been told that he made a misjudgement.
I really can't believe that any teacher, even one who liked to use different and radical methods of teaching, would think that putting a fictional drug dealer into a math test or any other kind of a test question, is a good idea. What about you? Do you think this teacher should be disciplined?
13 people like this
15 responses
@Withoutwings (6992)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I have heard of teacher's doing things like this before... sometimes, if you are in a bad, inner city school the only way to get through to kids is to put it in a way they understand.
5 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Sorry if I came across harsh in what I wrote. i really thought that more people would be shocked. I would have bene shocked if something like that had been on a test when i was in school, I guess, and it had never occurred to me that teachers nowadays might be using problems such as these to help motivate their students to pay attention. I never thought that the teacher should be fired or anything. I just was a bit surprised that the school wouldn't comment on whether he was disciplined or not, like they were afraid that parents would be angry if they heard that the teacher wasn't in trouble.
4 people like this
@firechick72 (167)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I have to agree that it depends on the school and the majority of what makes up the students. but that is just my opinion
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Shywolf,
I don't think you were harsh at all! This is a really good question. I do wish we knew the context of the question though. Are you privy to how the question was phrased? Or, if you don't know the exact phrasing, are you aware of the emphasis of the question?
And, how did you hear about this? I'm from the Pecos, and I've not heard any mention of this. I would imagine this would be a hot topic for Jim Villanucci on KKOB.
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I dont agree with the method that they used to teach the math. It is just wrong on so many levels. I think that if this is the first time they did something like this, maybe just a warning will prevent it from happening again.
4 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
13 Feb 07
You're probably right, and I think that it must have been the first time that this teacher had done something like this, or else the punishment would have been more. (Not that I know if he got punished at all.. but the story didn't make it seem that he had.)
@7nicole1 (1633)
• Canada
13 Feb 07
Truthfully in this day and age you have to be pretty of the wall to get through to kids. I dont think this teacher meant to cause problems as much as he was trying to get on the kids level so he could teach them easier. I think its a neat way going about it since this is the kind of things kids see at school or on tv anyways.
1 person likes this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Absolutely!!! I can't believe that teacher displayed such poor judgment!!!
What are the teachers really teaching our children if they lack such poor judgment????
My daughter came home the other day to tell me that a girl on her bus was upset at something a teacher said. The teacher had said that if a 15 year old girl got pregnant from a 15 year old boy, the the boy should be able to walk away because he doesn't need to ruin his life too. I thought that was insane!!! But since it was not her teacher and she didn't know what teacher said that, I couldn't do anything.
I would think that teacher should be reprimanded also!!!
What is wrong with teachers these days???
2 people like this
@Robert1005 (25)
• Mexico
12 Feb 07
Now, in this case the teacher is WRONG. That is insane, telling that... wow... that teacher must be expulsed from the school or I don't know... That's just wrong...
If a 15 years old guy got pregnant a girl, he must take care of her and his baby.
For all the 15 years old guys: USE CONDON.
1 person likes this
@shannon76 (1232)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Yes I think the teacher should be disciplined especially since they are from Moriarty!! (and I can only say that because I unfortunatly graduated from that awful school). How did you hear about this story? I wonder why I didn't hear about it... Weird that I would be wandering around Mylot and come across something from my home town....
2 people like this
@shannon76 (1232)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I completely agree!!! This a small farming community town that we are talking about. But even if it was an inner city town, a teacher should NEVER use that type of reference.
1 person likes this
@mikeyr6000le (2123)
• United States
13 Feb 07
What's next? Maybe in cooking class they hand out the ingredients for it too. I don't know what should happen to the teacher though. Just take it off the test. If the teacher does it again, then maybe suspend them for a week or so. Then if it happens again a fine and a motnh suspension.
@alienstar (5142)
• India
13 Feb 07
If the teacher has a good reputation of being a good teacher, then the chances of the teacher making a misjudgement should be agreed upon and i don't think any disciplinary action should be taken against the teacher as the teacher definitely won't make that mistake again and being a good teacher, he will remain a good teacher.
@coolcatzz (1587)
• Canada
25 Feb 07
Absolutely he should be diciplined. I think that is terrible. What kind of example is he trying to set? I have
heard of this before but I can't remember the exact case but
I do know there was a teacher who put something on a test that was totally uncalled for. That is terrible.
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
13 Feb 07
I think this was poor judgement on the part of the teacher. I can understand trying to relate to the kids and trying to grab their interst. But this is pushing the pin so to speak.
I think an apology for poor judgement is suffucient punishment.
@Cephoozee (373)
• United States
13 Feb 07
No need to discipline a teacher over something so trivial. The problem with today's society is the political corectness being forced down our throats. Like the other posters have said, whatever gets the kids interested in learning is the best way to do it
@crickethear (1417)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Yes, I think the teacher should be disciplined so it won't happen again. Also to be a lesson for others that they won't get away with it. It could have been an isolated instance of poor judgement, however, it certainly needs to be addressed, and investigated intently.
1 person likes this
@devilrulez (15)
• France
13 Feb 07
I think it is just a question nothing else but teacher should take care that he used other dealers in questions ... LOL
1 person likes this
