Racial diversity discussion in science classes

Published on March 1, 2011 By taltamir In Politics

I have been asked by my university to complete the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The government is curious to know how it compares to other universities.

I was asked: "In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you done each of the following?"

Then given a list of activities... One of them struck me as downright wrong.

"Included diverse perspectives (different races, religions, genders, political beliefs, etc.) in class discussions or writing assignments"

How exactly would class discussions and writing assignments include discussions of "different races, religions, genders, political beliefs, etc." without actually disrupting the class or the assignment? The only class this could possibility have a place in is a class that specifically focuses on those issues. But the question isn't if I have taken courses about such subjects. They specifically wish to know whether my regular classes included that. It is a safe (and sad) bet that it is somehow considered a good thing is science classes are disrupted for this kind of nonsense.

Of course, this was just the first page. There were many many more times where such nonsense reared its ugly head.

Comments (Page 1)

taltamir

on Mar 01, 2011

reserved

Nitro Cruiser

on Mar 01, 2011

It's all about being PC.

Tova7

on Mar 01, 2011

Wonder how that'd work in Math...

Dr Guy

on Mar 02, 2011

Tova7

reply 3

Wonder how that'd work in Math...

2+2=5 is close enough when you use Affirmative action.

BoobzTwo

on Mar 03, 2011

taltamir:

I think you are right ... there is no place for these kinds of discussions in any normal curriculum be it science, math or whatever. They are want to gather this kind of information for some purpose and I do not believe they have good intentions on their minds, to say the least. This just cries out to me for more diversity training to further disrupt the education process.

Leauki

on Mar 18, 2011

I thought about this, whether physics change depending on the race of the observer. And it makes sense.

Compare Newton and Einstein. We have an Anglo-Saxon theory of gravity and a Jewish theory of relativity. Both attempt to explain some of the same phenomena, but the Jewish theory is BETTER than the Anglo-Saxon theory. Both theories are usable. Of course, none of the other races offered a usable theory.

You see, this is very important for science.

Only someone ignorant of the importance of the differences between the races would argue that science is about the theories rather than the perspectives of the theorists'.

Call me ignorant.

lulapilgrim

on Mar 18, 2011

Compare Newton and Einstein.

If we do we'll find that Einstein's biography has got to be one of the most lurid in the annuls of science.

We have an Anglo-Saxon theory of gravity and a Jewish theory of relativity.

Besides his sexual escapades, Einstein was plagued by evidence of plagarism and failed to give scientific credit to his wife Mileva, a Serbian, who helped him with his theories.

Both attempt to explain some of the same phenomena, but the Jewish theory is BETTER than the Anglo-Saxon theory.

One of the biggest myths surrounding Einstein is that he was the inventor of E=mc2. But there are other scientists (Lorentz, Gibbs, Poincare, Hilbert and Boltzmann) who had either developed or employed the formula prior to Einstein.

taltamir

on Mar 19, 2011

Leauki

reply 6

I thought about this, whether physics change depending on the race of the observer. And it makes sense.

Compare Newton and Einstein. We have an Anglo-Saxon theory of gravity and a Jewish theory of relativity. Both attempt to explain some of the same phenomena, but the Jewish theory is BETTER than the Anglo-Saxon theory. Both theories are usable. Of course, none of the other races offered a usable theory.

You see, this is very important for science.

Only someone ignorant of the importance of the differences between the races would argue that science is about the theories rather than the perspectives of the theorists'.

Call me ignorant.

You sir, win an internet. Maybe I should bring up this argument in physics class

Leauki

on Mar 28, 2011

lulapilgrim

reply 7

If we do we'll find that Einstein's biography has got to be one of the most lurid in the annuls of science.

Besides his sexual escapades, Einstein was plagued by evidence of plagarism and failed to give scientific credit to his wife Mileva, a Serbian, who helped him with his theories.

One of the biggest myths surrounding Einstein is that he was the inventor of E=mc2. But there are other scientists (Lorentz, Gibbs, Poincare, Hilbert and Boltzmann) who had either developed or employed the formula prior to Einstein.

Still fighting the epic battle between Lula and reality?

lulapilgrim

on Mar 28, 2011

Leauki

Einstein...... a Jewish theory of relativity. Both attempt to explain some of the same phenomena, but the Jewish theory is BETTER than the Anglo-Saxon theory. Both theories are usable. Of course, none of the other races offered a usable theory.

Leauki

Still fighting the epic battle between Lula and reality?

You can praise Einstein all you want, but what's real is that Einstein wasn't the original discoverer of the theory of relativity.

Leauki

on Mar 29, 2011

lulapilgrim

reply 10

You can praise Einstein all you want, but what's real is that Einstein wasn't the original discoverer of the theory of relativity.

But he was.

Who do you claim "discovered" the theory of relativity? (And how do you "discover" a theory?)

Dr Guy

on Mar 29, 2011

Leauki

reply 11

Who do you claim "discovered" the theory of relativity? (And how do you "discover" a theory?)

If someone left it on a desert island - and a wrong way Italian using Spanish money stumbles across it?

lulapilgrim

on Mar 29, 2011

lulapilgrim

reply 10

You can praise Einstein all you want, but what's real is that Einstein wasn't the original discoverer of the theory of relativity.

Leauki

reply 11

But he was.

You can insist all you want but your insistence doesn't make it so.

Leauki

reply 11

Who do you claim "discovered" the theory of relativity? (And how do you "discover" a theory?)

I already named them...

lulapilgrim

reply 10

The media insulated myths about Einstein were busted in 1987 when Helen Dukas and Otto Nathan, the executors of his estate, made his personal papers public.

We know from several biographies of Einstein such as:

C.J. Bjerkens, "Albert Einstein: The Incorrigible Plagiarist,", 2002. R. Carroll.

"Einstein's E=mc2 "was Italian's idea". The Guardian Nov. 11, 1999. Abraham Pais, "Subtle is the Lord: The Science and the Life of Albert Einstein", 1982. Throughout the book, he maintains Einstein's work on relativity contains Lorentz, Gibbs, Poincare, Hilbert and Boltzmann's formulas and principles.

There's more too and they bust your idea of a Jewish theory of relativity.

taltamir

on Apr 02, 2011

lulapilgrim

reply 10

Leauki

You can praise Einstein all you want, but what's real is that Einstein wasn't the original discoverer of the theory of relativity.

That was clearly sarcasm on Leauki's part, meant to parody the "racially liberal approach to science and history" rather then an actual praise of Einstein.

lulapilgrim

on Apr 02, 2011

Leauki

reply 6

I thought about this, whether physics change depending on the race of the observer. And it makes sense.

Einstein......a Jewish theory of relativity. Both attempt to explain some of the same phenomena, but the Jewish theory is BETTER than the Anglo-Saxon theory. Both theories are usable. Of course, none of the other races offered a usable theory.

You see, this is very important for science.

Only someone ignorant of the importance of the differences between the races would argue that science is about the theories rather than the perspectives of the theorists'.

Call me ignorant.

taltamir

reply 14

That was clearly sarcasm on Leauki's part, meant to parody the "racially liberal approach to science and history" rather then an actual praise of Einstein.

Sarcasm? Really?

Doesn't seem to be the way you described it in your post #8.

taltamir

reply 8

You sir, win an internet. Maybe I should bring up this argument in physics class

But whatever.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!