Submitted by Shasa Ward, Feb 6, 2007 06:28

"Students are not empty vessels when they enter a classroom; they already know and care about things like Nike shoes, Barbie dolls, and Cocoa Frosted flakes. Such things are already a part of their lives and if your goal is to teach math and you want to use real world examples that are meaningful to the students, these are the sorts of things you will use."

I am a high school mathematics teacher. Our goal is to teach students mathematics in the context of the real world, but there is so much about the real world that they do not yet know--information which we, as teachers, are committed to TEACH them. Reader Haim is suggesting that we teach children simply by reinforcing things they've already been exposed to. Our nation's youth--whether a 9-year old or a 15-year old--need to be exposed to MORE than just what Saturday morning cartoons and music television highlight. Let us make other parts of our lives and the world in which we live "MEANINGFUL to the students."

I've lived and have, at a different time, taught in a very low-income area. Why DO students know/care about Nikes, Barbies, and Cocoa Frosted Flakes? (Personally, I've never owned a pair of Nikes, owned a Barbie doll, nor eaten Cocoa Frosted Flakes. But I definitely have known about them--i.e., they were a part of my life.) Is this reader advocating that we delegate the responsibility of educating the youth about values, health, identity, etc. to the media? I hope not.

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