Each tree had 56 oranges. If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?

That, apparently, is one of a number of questions on a math assignment being used in the Beaver Ridge Elementary School in Norcross, part of the Gwinnett County, Georgia, School District. It was said to be a cross-curricular activity. This is part of one of the newer ways of teaching math … use the math in context of real life situations, etc. etc. Unfortuantely, this attempt at linking math to history class looks more like a helpful exercise for future plantation owners … of the Antebellum period.

A vice principle has collected the assignment and filed them in the shredder.

Details here.

Also, it is no “how much would each slave pick” but rather “how many would each slave pick.”

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4 Responses to Each tree had 56 oranges. If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?

  1. julian says:

    “In the climax of William Shakespeare’s Henry V, King Henry of England is about to face the French army at the Battle of Agincourt. King Henry’s army is tired and heavily outnumbered. If the French army is composed of 36000 soldiers and King Henry’s army is outnumbered 6 to 1, how many soldiers does King Henry have?”

    There ya go, teach. Free of charge even.

  2. NewEnglandBob says:

    They didn’t supply the number of trees, so the question can not be answered. ;)

  3. Azkyroth says:

    I think the teacher should be forced to accept “slavery is inherently unequal” as an answer.

  4. Dunc says:

    Also, it is no “how much would each slave pick” but rather “how many would each slave pick.”

    McKean’s Law strikes again!

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