[POLL] College Math Instructor Accused of Racially Insensitive Test Question

[Brassman]

Originally posted by: Amused
Professor Apologizes for Test Question

BELLEVUE, Wash. (April 20) - A community college math instructor has apologized for a test question invoking Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that students complained was racially insensitive.

Peter Ratener, 60, who has taught at Bellevue Community College for more than 25 years, said Wednesday night at a trustees meeting that the question on an exam last month was an "egregious mistake."

It began, "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second." The question then asked students to determine when the watermelon would hit the ground.

The Board of Trustees condemned the wording as insulting to Rice, who is black, because of caricatures of blacks eating watermelon during the days of plantation slavery.

Ratener said the question originally referred to Gallagher, a one-named comedian who smashed watermelons as part of his act, and that he changed it to Condoleezza because she was more recognizable and because he likes the name.

A number of Seattle-area black community leaders demanded Ratener be fired or disciplined.

"Apologies have been made, but where is the atonement?" said James Kelly, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

College President Jean Floten said action would be initiated against Ratener under a section of the faculty contract that covers punishment, such as a reprimand or suspension, but not termination.

f* them.. white people don't complain when the questions contain names like Bob, Billy, Harry, etc.. (obvious white names) lol.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Waste of time imo

 

[captains]

the first to scream racism are the racists themselves

 

[Gibson486]

did anyone get the correct answer? if not, then that school has some bigger issues.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Notice the wanting atonement or payback. It's not enough for whitey to make a mistake. We have to crush him and ruin his life because of it too.

But he didn't make a mistake.

I think it's racist that the NBA is 98% black. It is not a fair representation of society. Wait a sec - maybe 98% of blacks can play basketball better than the rest of society - nah couldn't be has to be racist.

The prof just choose a fruit and a name.

I'm amazed that the "leaders" didn't pick up on the fact that she was on top of the building. After all, the only reason people used to be on top of buildings was to tarmac them. The only people who did this were prisoners and slaves. Has to be a racial comment too.

Ridiculous.

 

[DaShen]

:thumbsdown: I voted NO, but why a watermelon?

 

[daveshel]

Rice is black?

 

[Martin]

You know what's even more sad than the fact that poeple are offended by this? The fact that they're asking this type of question in college.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: captains
the first to scream racism are the racists themselves

couldn't have said better myself!

 

[nakedfrog]

Oops, accidentally voted Yes, it offends me.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: maziwanka
unbelievable...

then again, why would you think of making a math problem with condolezza rice and a watermelon?

Maybe because "Ratener said the question originally referred to Gallagher, a one-named comedian who smashed watermelons as part of his act, and that he changed it to Condoleezza because she was more recognizable and because he likes the name. "

If the man isn't racist, then he's exceptionally stupid. He's certainly been around long enough to know of the negative associations of black people and watermelon. It's no less obvious than if he had a question about a mexican crossing the border or a jew hoarding money.

If this is this guy's first time with anything like this then i'd accept him at his word that he was just stupid, but if there's a history then i'd push to see him fired.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

So the question was okay when it was a WHITE GUY with the watermellon?

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: J Heartless Slick

Originally posted by: Vinfinite
Everything is racial insensitivity nowadays, you got my vote to ban all test questions, forever.

oh and I voted No

Is the fact that most ATOT members are white or asian the explanation for their tolerance of racism and racist based behavior?

Yes. The tolerance of racism against groups they're not a part of, anyway. You'll notice the Asians came out in force when the guy started the thread about them eating cats.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Martin
You know what's even more sad than the fact that poeple are offended by this? The fact that they're asking this type of question in college.

A community college math instructor...

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: yowolabi

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: maziwanka
unbelievable...

then again, why would you think of making a math problem with condolezza rice and a watermelon?

Maybe because "Ratener said the question originally referred to Gallagher, a one-named comedian who smashed watermelons as part of his act, and that he changed it to Condoleezza because she was more recognizable and because he likes the name. "

If the man isn't racist, then he's exceptionally stupid. He's certainly been around long enough to know of the negative associations of black people and watermelon. It's no less obvious than if he had a question about a mexican crossing the border or a jew hoarding money.

If this is this guy's first time with anything like this then i'd accept him at his word that he was just stupid, but if there's a history then i'd push to see him fired.

Nothing but a load of assumptions on your part. Hard as it might be for you to believe there are people who don't immediately associate watermelons with blacks negatively or positively. He gave a simple, rational explanation yet it is people like you that insist on putting a racial spin on every little thing. You just can't fathom the concept that most people don't spend the majority of their time obsessing over race and whether or not every syllable they utter will pass some kind of sensitivity test. This whole thing is as stupid as the brouhaha over the use of the word niggardly a few years back in Washington, DC.

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: Vinfinite
Everything is racial insensitivity nowadays, you got my vote to ban all test questions, forever.

oh and I voted No

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: daveshel
Rice is black?

Uncle Ben is.

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Martin
You know what's even more sad than the fact that poeple are offended by this? The fact that they're asking this type of question in college.

A community college math instructor...

I noticed that. As if my opinion of those places wasn't low enough already. This type of question was something that would have likely shown up on my gr11 physics and that is fscking sad. And its not like I'm a genius or went to some fancy school, it was a normal public HS.

But the failings of education are best left for another thread...

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Martin

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Martin
You know what's even more sad than the fact that poeple are offended by this? The fact that they're asking this type of question in college.

A community college math instructor...

I noticed that. As if my opinion of those places wasn't low enough already. This type of question was something that would have likely shown up on my gr11 physics and that is fscking sad. And its not like I'm a genius or went to some fancy school, it was a normal public HS.

But the failings of education are best left for another thread...

Many community colleges have GED courses and would, of course, teach high school level subjects.

 

[shoRunner]

wow...people are just reaching for anything they can get to call it racists....yet another example of "the man" keepin them down with test questions...

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Martin

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Martin
You know what's even more sad than the fact that poeple are offended by this? The fact that they're asking this type of question in college.

A community college math instructor...

I noticed that. As if my opinion of those places wasn't low enough already. This type of question was something that would have likely shown up on my gr11 physics and that is fscking sad. And its not like I'm a genius or went to some fancy school, it was a normal public HS.

But the failings of education are best left for another thread...

Many community colleges have GED courses and would, of course, teach high school level subjects.

In addition they also teach a lot of high school level refresher courses for people who either did not get the required courses in high school or have been out of school for a while. Personally given the mission and purpose I think community colleges are a great resource and deserve a lot more respect than they traditionally receive. I never had my time wasted being taught by a TA when I was in a community college.

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: Amused

A number of Seattle-area black community leaders demanded Ratener be fired or disciplined.

Cry us a river dickweeds :roll:

 

[spidey07]

"If a white cracker measures 2" by 2" what is the area of this cracker?"

OMG!!! That's racist!!!!!

 

[torpid]

I voted yes, because there was no reason to specifically name condi in referring to watermelon. They have no association with each other. Gallagher is associated with watermelon because he had them in his act. Condi has no real association in the mind of the public, therefore there was no point in specifically mentioning her name instead of just "a person". It's not like it matters who is throwing the watermelon anyway.

Maybe the professor changed to condi because he liked the name, but that doesn't change the fact that it looks really weird to specifically mention someone who has no known watermelon association other than possibly racist undertones.

However, when I voted yes I didn't really vote "yes I am offended", I voted more yes the question was insensitive and crude.

 

[So]

WTF? Any depiction of a black person that also involves a watermelon is insulting now? WTF?

Should we not be allowed to take photos of black people who happen to be eating at KFC any more either?