Should schools in America teach Arabic Numerals as part of their curriculum?

[Wendy31]

Because otherwise you can't dial a phone number or enter a pin number or do even the most basic math?

Why did 9 people say no? Seriously, why? Using "they don't know it's a trick question" isn't an excuse.

9 people said no because they don't know or remember what Arabic numerals are.

I don't think anyone would say, "No, kids should not learn the numerals 0-9."

However, due to some people NOT knowing or remembering what Arabic numerals are & thinking Arabic is a foreign language, they say, "No, kids should not have to learn Arabic numerals as part of an American math curriculum."

They would also say that kids should not have to learn any kind of foreign language in conjunction w/ their American math curriculum.

And that's not to say kids shouldn't be exposed to foreign languages & different cultures. I remember, at different times throughout both my education & my kids' education, learning different foreign language words & learning about world cultures in classes other than the specific foreign language classes. Education really should be interdisciplinary. But you don't always remember those little bits & pieces of information you pick up along the way - like the fact that 0-9 are Arabic numerals.

 

[cabanafrau]

Because otherwise you can't dial a phone number or enter a pin number or do even the most basic math?

Why did 9 people say no? Seriously, why? Using "they don't know it's a trick question" isn't an excuse.

Yep, I'm suggesting numbers should not be part of what children are taught in school -- nor are they, because clearly people cannot dial a phone number, enter a pin number or do even the most basic math.

Social media, conquering more than weapons ever could in this day and age.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

9 people said no because they don't know or remember what Arabic numerals are.

Then their answer should be "no opinion". If people don't know what something is, they shouldn't have an opinion. Take 5 seconds to google "Arabic numbers" or don't have an opinion. Too many people spout off opinions on subjects they know nothing about. It's one of the things about the Internet that is ruining our culture.

 

[tvguy]

Do you mean when did the switch occur from using one to the other? That would, of course, differ vastly by which society you are talking about (some only ever used one version).

I guess. I never learned Arabic numerals, just roman numerals. I assume they are different.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

MCMXVIII?? Where did you come up with that number?

To be honest it was going to be M with a bar over it. But I didn't want to look up how to do that in my browser. Then I just put in MCM but I thought that didn't look cute enough.

I think I'd go with lack of knowledge over racism with this one. I'm sure they're were some quick reflex responses from some, but I believe a true lack of knowledge and information would be the reason for most of the "no" votes.

Sure ignorance plays a part because anybody that didn't answer yes, baring a cheeky fellow or two was likely ignorant of the fact that those are the numbers we use every day. But on the original survey, no opinion or the like was an option. So ignorance can explain why one didn't vote yes. But it doesn't explain why they voted no.

Or it could be both that they do not understand what Arabic numbers are AND do not think that there's a need to teach yet another set of numbers in a very crowded curriculum. Without knowing the basis of their answer definitively it's not appropriate for someone else to simply assign the basis based on assumption.

Well for people that didn't understand what they are, or didn't think it important there was a third option. No opinion. 15% said that. So why did 56% think it important enough to answer no? And do you really expect me to believe all of that 56% just thought we don't need any more useless number systems? What you're really asking me to do is bury my head in the sand and upon seeing all sand and no bigotry, assume that there isn't any bigotry. Bigotry was a big part of it. Not all of it. But a big chunk of it.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I guess. I never learned Arabic numerals, just roman numerals. I assume they are different.

I am 100% sure you learned Arabic numerals. Maybe you didn't learn that's what they were called?

 

[Magical2017]

You misunderstood my post. I was offering a possible rationale for those choosing no.

I apologize for the misunderstanding.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Having learned Eastern Arabic Numerals (as in the actual symbols used for numbers in Arabic), I initially wondered why in the world that should be part of any standard US curriculum. I did then remember that our standard written numbers are a derivative of that and referred to as Arabic Numerals. It seems pretty obvious to me that the original poll was written with an agenda, but the insinuation that people could only possibly have voted no due to a racial bias cannot be substantiated.

About half of Americans don't know what Auschwitz was and roughly two-thirds can't name the three branches of government. It's not surprising at all that many people wouldn't know the history of our numbers or that they're called Arabic Numerals. I would hazard a guess though that a fair number of Americans know that Arabic isn't written with Western letters and might assume that Arabic Numerals are a completely different number system. I imagine many people who voted no would have probably said the same thing if the question was about including the Chinese symbols for numbers in standard US curriculum.

 

[SirDuff]

I guess. I never learned Arabic numerals, just roman numerals. I assume they are different.

So, you only use I, II, III, IV, V, etc? Really?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Does this help?

Hey wait a minute. He looks a lot like my neighbor's kid that borrowed my flag, Weber, and Evinrude and never returned any of them. Some vague excuse about an accident.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Not a teacher but parent to a 4th grade student, yes it is taught, at least here (BC Canada) it is.

And here in Massachusetts as well! (And most everywhere else, I suspect, too!)

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Wow who would have thought there were so many psychics here on the DIS to know the reasons why people answered the polls they did.

I think "xenophobe" or "ignorant" are basically the only options, unless you believe that we no longer need to use 0 - 9, like @cabanafrau. And by ignorant I mean not knowing what Arabic numerals are, as opposed to using it as an insult.

And I don't mean to shame people who don't know what they are. That's fine. Everybody learns something new every day. But if you were asked a question, and you didn't understand the question, then your answer shouldn't be "no". It should be "no opinion." Or you should ask for clarification. Or use a search engine.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I think "xenophobe" or "ignorant" are basically the only options, unless you believe that we no longer need to use 0 - 9, like @cabanafrau. And by ignorant I mean not knowing what Arabic numerals are, as opposed to using it as an insult.

And I don't mean to shame people who don't know what they are. That's fine. Everybody learns something new every day. But if you were asked a question, and you didn't understand the question, then your answer shouldn't be "no". It should be "no opinion." Or you should ask for clarification. Or use a search engine.

You’re forgetting that just because people didn’t know the answer doesn’t mean they didn’t believe in their minds that they DID know the answer. This is why people say “no” instead of “no opinion”.

 

[Wendy31]

I think "xenophobe" or "ignorant" are basically the only options, unless you believe that we no longer need to use 0 - 9, like @cabanafrau. And by ignorant I mean not knowing what Arabic numerals are, as opposed to using it as an insult.

And I don't mean to shame people who don't know what they are. That's fine. Everybody learns something new every day. But if you were asked a question, and you didn't understand the question, then your answer shouldn't be "no". It should be "no opinion." Or you should ask for clarification. Or use a search engine.

But do you not get that you don't know what you don't know?

Someone who did not know or remember what Arabic numerals are could look at the question & think, "Oh, Arabic is a foreign language. Why should kids have to learn a foreign language in math class?" And then vote - "No, kids should not have to learn Arabic in math class."

Substitute any other language, & they'd vote the same way. In their mind, they've understood the question just fine - because they don't know what they don't know.

Now, admittedly, some people answering the question w/ a "no" may have a racial bias.

But assuming EVERY single person answering the question w/ a "no" is racist or xenophobic is wrong.

 

[Hikergirl]

You’re forgetting that just because people didn’t know the answer doesn’t mean they didn’t believe in their minds that they DID know the answer. This is why people say “no” instead of “no opinion”.

Exactly. I was in the middle of typing a long winded response and saw you posted.
I'll save the pp the grief of reading mine and just agree with you

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You’re forgetting that just because people didn’t know the answer doesn’t mean they didn’t believe in their minds that they DID know the answer. This is why people say “no” instead of “no opinion”.

But do you not get that you don't know what you don't know?

Not knowing that they don't know still means they don't know, right?

 

[BLAZEY]

I think "xenophobe" or "ignorant" are basically the only options, unless you believe that we no longer need to use 0 - 9, like @cabanafrau. And by ignorant I mean not knowing what Arabic numerals are, as opposed to using it as an insult.

And I don't mean to shame people who don't know what they are. That's fine. Everybody learns something new every day. But if you were asked a question, and you didn't understand the question, then your answer shouldn't be "no". It should be "no opinion." Or you should ask for clarification. Or use a search engine.

I think there are some who try to "save face" of their lack of knowledge and say "no" only to have it backfire and have them look racist for that lack of knowledge.

 

[hopemax]

However, due to some people NOT knowing or remembering what Arabic numerals are & thinking Arabic is a foreign language, they say, "No, kids should not have to learn Arabic numerals as part of an American math curriculum."

They would also say that kids should not have to learn any kind of foreign language in conjunction w/ their American math curriculum.

And that's not to say kids shouldn't be exposed to foreign languages & different cultures. I remember, at different times throughout both my education & my kids' education, learning different foreign language words & learning about world cultures in classes other than the specific foreign language classes. Education really should be interdisciplinary. But you don't always remember those little bits & pieces of information you pick up along the way - like the fact that 0-9 are Arabic numerals.

Remembering that the question didn't specify "math curriculum" just curriculum... My first instinct, was to say yes, as part of a social studies unit. Thinking numbers and not specifically numerals. This thread was the first one I clicked on this morning, while still in bed, so my brain wasn't fully engaged. But as soon as I processed that thought, my next thought, "Hey, wait a minute!" I never would have voted no, even with my momentary lapse.

Arabic is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Certainly, Americans should know that. And also know that given the global economy/marketplace that some basic exposure to other cultures should be standard. And the very, very basics such as phrases such as Hello, Thank You, Yes/No and Numbers are the type of things that get introduced in Elementary school units. I remember learning how to count to 10 in French, German and Spanish. These days, Arabic and Mandarin should be pretty standard as well.

So honestly, I'm disappointed in the reported "no" vote because I don't think you have to know our numbers are Arabic numbers in order to say "yes." All you need is an understanding that Arabic language is a major world language, and numbers are one of the most basic and easily teachable elements of a culture. Saying no, is like saying Americans don't need to know the basics of other major cultures (while I'm sure we would be appalled in other countries didn't teach the basics of the USA because we are such a world power).

 

[Wendy31]

Not knowing that they don't know still means they don't know, right?

But if you don't know, how do you know you don't know? And, if you're assuming you DO know, how do you know that you need to google it first before responding?

Years & years ago, when I was around 15, I had been invited to go to Hawaii w/ my best friend & her family. Before the trip, we were hanging around the pool, & my friend remarked, "I can't wait 'til we're in Hawaii & surrounded by Birds of Paradise."

I innocently replied, "Yeah, here we just have robins."

My friend & her mom just laughed & laughed at me.

I had NO IDEA that Birds of Paradise were flowers!

I did not know that I did not know & responded accordingly to what I thought I DID know.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

But if you don't know, how do you know you don't know?

Then your opinion is just wrong, right? Because it's based on wrong information. It comes down to the same thing in the end. So, if you want to get technical, there are three four reasons:

xenophobe, ignorant, confused, @cabanafrau

Although, I guess "xenophobe" is adding a judgment call to the confused option. You think Arabic numerals are numbers from the Arab language and the US shouldn't teach them because ... um... there's not enough time in the day? Do those people feel the same way about Roman numerals?