Mathematics

In my math classes growing up, there wasn’t much room for discrimination when talking about the pure math questions. When we would discuss word problems or use the textbook other races and cultures had the opportunity to be represented. The textbook we used did incorporate pictures of students with diverse backgrounds and included them in examples by using names from other cultures and even some traditions. Hanukah was a holiday represented in a math problem that incorporated other cultures into the textbook and into the math questions. Although the textbook made an effort to have other cultures and races present the textbook only went as far as names from other cultures and some pictures of other races. Beyond the pictures and names there weren’t questions that pertained to many other cultures and the questions were still directed towards white students in the dominant culture.

Inuit math is based on very practical problems and solutions. This is different from the Eurocentric math where there are a lot of equation-based questions with graph problems being solved. In the Inuit math the problems being solved are useful for daily life and have a more practical approach to them. Lots of students feel what they learn in math isn’t useful and often ask when they will actually use the information. In the Inuit math the problems are based through practical approaches and useful information. The Inuit math is also influenced by the environment, culture, and language. Eurocentric math isn’t always influenced by the environment or the culture and language of those learning it like Inuit math is.