Alternative Math (2017 Short Film)

Summary

The video script satirizes a math teacher's struggle with a student and parents who refuse to accept the standard answer to 2+2. The teacher faces backlash from the parents, a school board, and the media, leading to her suspension for insisting on the correct answer. The absurdity of the situation highlights the conflict between academic integrity and ideological bias.

Takeaways

• 😅 A teacher humorously tries to teach a student that 2+2 equals 4, but the student incorrectly writes 22.
• 😡 The student's parents confront the teacher, accusing her of being biased and wrong in her teaching.
• 🤔 The teacher stands by her mathematical knowledge, asserting that 2+2 indeed equals 4, not 22.
• 🏫 The school administration gets involved, with the principal and board members discussing the issue.
• 📉 The teacher faces backlash from the parents, who threaten to sue the school for emotional distress.
• 📢 The situation escalates into a media frenzy, with news outlets reporting on the 'math controversy'.
• 🚫 The teacher is suspended for her 'extremist views' on math, highlighting a clash between academic integrity and perceived open-mindedness.
• 💸 The teacher is fired and receives her final pay, but there's a dispute over the amount, with the teacher claiming it should be 22,000 instead of 4,000.
• 🙏 The teacher is shown receiving support from some, suggesting that not everyone agrees with the school's decision.
• 🤔 The script satirically explores themes of authority, knowledge, and the absurdity of challenging fundamental truths.

Q & A

What was the initial mistake made by Danny in the script?

Danny initially wrote '22' as the answer to the addition problem '2 + 2'.

How did Mrs. Wells, the teacher, explain the correct answer to Danny?

Mrs. Wells used a physical demonstration with markers to show that when you have two markers in one hand and add two more from the other hand, you get four markers, not '22'.

What was the reaction of Danny's parents when they found out about the test result?

Danny's parents were upset and accused Mrs. Wells of being biased and calling their son stupid.

What was the principal's initial response to the situation?

The principal was not initially aware of the situation and asked Mrs. Wells to explain how she wanted to handle it.

Why did the parents threaten to complain to the principal?

The parents threatened to complain because they believed Mrs. Wells was wrong to correct Danny's answer and that she was imposing her views on their child.

What was the principal's decision regarding Mrs. Wells after the meeting with the parents?

The principal decided to suspend Mrs. Wells while they reconsidered her extremist views, as she refused to accept that there might be multiple correct answers to '2 + 2'.

What was the outcome of the lawsuit mentioned in the script?

The parents sued the school for emotional distress to a minor, and the school board decided to fire Mrs. Wells.

How did the media portray the situation in the script?

The media portrayed Mrs. Wells as an activist teacher who was abusing her students' First Amendment rights by telling them their answers were wrong.

What was the final payment made to Mrs. Wells by the school?

The school paid Mrs. Wells $4,000 for her last pay period, but she insisted it should be '22,000'.

What was the underlying message of the script regarding the teaching of math and academic integrity?

The script satirically highlights the importance of academic integrity and the teaching of objective truths in math, despite societal pressures to be more 'open-minded' or accommodating to alternative viewpoints.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Misunderstanding in Math Class

The script starts with a teacher attempting to teach a student, Danny, that the sum of two plus two is four, not 22 as he had written. The teacher uses a physical demonstration with markers to explain addition. The student's parents arrive and argue with the teacher about Danny's answer, insisting that their son is a 'free thinker' and that the teacher is wrong. The situation escalates, with the parents threatening to complain to the principal and accusing the teacher of bias. The teacher stands her ground, arguing that math has definitive answers.

05:03

📰 Public Backlash and Consequences

The narrative shifts to a broader conflict where the teacher, Mrs. Wells, faces public scrutiny and potential legal action from the parents for causing 'emotional distress' to their child. The principal suggests an apology, but the teacher refuses, maintaining that teaching correct answers is part of her job. The situation spirals into a media frenzy, with the teacher being labeled as 'abusive' and 'elitist' for insisting on the mathematical truth. The school board pressures her to recant her stance, but she remains firm. Ultimately, she is suspended and faces financial penalties, which she humorously corrects by insisting on receiving 22,000 dollars instead of the offered 4,000.

Keywords

💡Addition

Addition is a mathematical operation that combines two or more numbers to find their total or sum. In the video, the concept of addition is central to the conflict when a student incorrectly answers '22' for the sum of '2+2'. This mistake sparks a debate on the nature of truth and the role of education in imparting factual knowledge. The teacher's insistence on the correct answer ('4') highlights the importance of teaching accurate mathematical principles.

💡Mistakes

Mistakes are errors or incorrect actions made unintentionally. The script mentions that 'everybody makes mistakes' in the context of learning, suggesting that errors are a natural part of the educational process. The video uses the mistake made by the student to explore themes of tolerance for error and the importance of learning from them, rather than simply being corrected.

💡Education

Education refers to the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and values, particularly in a formal setting like a school. The video script revolves around the educational setting, where a teacher is trying to teach a student the correct answer to a math problem. The conflict that arises from the student's incorrect answer and the parents' reaction highlights the complexities of the educational process and the expectations placed on educators.

💡Parents

Parents are the primary caregivers and educators of children, often influencing their development and education. In the video, the parents of Danny, the student who made the mistake, become involved in the conflict with the teacher. Their reaction to the teacher's correction of their child's mistake underscores the tension between parental involvement and the authority of educators in the learning process.

💡Respect

Respect is the regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. The script uses a metaphor of dividing students by zero to illustrate the lack of respect the teacher feels from the parents and the administration. This keyword is used to critique the way the teacher's expertise and authority are being undermined, reflecting on the broader issue of respect for educators in society.

💡Math

Mathematics, often referred to simply as math, is the study of numbers, quantities, and shapes. The video's central conflict revolves around a basic math problem ('2+2'), which becomes a symbol for objective truth and the fundamental principles of mathematics. The script uses math as a backdrop to discuss the importance of factual accuracy in education and the challenges of maintaining it amidst external pressures.

💡Bias

Bias refers to a preconceived opinion or preference that can influence judgment or decision-making. In the video, the parents accuse the teacher of being biased in her insistence on the correct answer. The term is used to highlight the perceived conflict between the teacher's commitment to objective truth and the parents' desire for a more flexible or subjective approach to education.

💡Academic Integrity

Academic integrity refers to the commitment to honesty and ethical conduct in educational settings. The script mentions academic integrity in the context of the teacher's refusal to compromise on the correct answer to a math problem. This keyword is central to the video's message about the importance of upholding academic standards and the consequences of failing to do so.

💡Suing

Suing is the act of initiating a lawsuit or legal action against someone. In the video, the parents consider suing the school for the emotional distress caused to their child by the teacher's correction. This keyword is used to illustrate the extreme measures taken by the parents and the legal implications of the conflict, reflecting on the broader societal trend of litigation.

💡First Amendment

The First Amendment is part of the United States Constitution that protects freedom of speech and expression. The script references the First Amendment in the context of the teacher's alleged abuse of the students' rights, suggesting a misunderstanding or misuse of the amendment. This keyword is used to critique the way constitutional rights are sometimes invoked in inappropriate contexts.

💡Activism

Activism refers to the use of actions to advocate for, or resist changes in, society. The video describes the teacher as an 'activist' in a sarcastic tone, suggesting that her commitment to teaching the correct answer is being misconstrued as political activism. This keyword is used to highlight the tension between the teacher's professional responsibilities and the perception of her actions by others.

Highlights

A teacher tries to explain to a student that 2+2 equals 4, not 22.

The student's parents argue with the teacher about the correctness of their child's answer.

The teacher is accused of being biased and not respecting the child's free thinking.

Parents threaten to complain to the principal about the teacher's approach.

The principal discusses the issue with the teacher and suggests an apology.

The teacher defends the mathematical fact that 2+2 equals 4 and refuses to apologize.

The situation escalates to a lawsuit for emotional distress to a minor.

The teacher is called to a board meeting to explain her stance on the issue.

The board pressures the teacher to recant her statement that 2+2 equals 4.

The teacher is suspended for her refusal to compromise on academic integrity.

Media coverage sensationalizes the story, creating a debate on the 'correct' answer to 2+2.

The teacher is fired for her extremist views on mathematics.

The teacher receives her final paycheck, which is incorrectly calculated by the school.

The teacher corrects the school's mistake, stating that her pay should be 22,000 instead of 4,000.

The video ends with applause, suggesting support for the teacher's stance on academic integrity.

Transcripts

oh honey Danny come on in

looks like you're having some trouble

with addition until P upset you're here

to learn and we learn from mistakes

everybody makes mistakes

nah-ah look at this question here what

is two plus two see you wrote 22 but

when we do addition we don't just put

the numbers next to each other

that's stupid all right

I think about this way if I have two

markers in this hand and then I add the

two markers from this hand how many

markers do I have now 22 no Danny it's

four

[Music]

mrs. well we're Danny's parents oh yes

hello oh please please come in now don't

worry it is completely normal for kids

to get frustrated when they're

struggling with a subject so what's this

about Danny getting some answers wrong

on the so-called test of yours we had a

test one of the questions was what is

2+2

Danny answered 22 and and that's not the

right answer

he says who says Matt are you calling my

son stupid oh no course not

who are you to say that your answer is

right and that his is wrong no no no

she's right

thank you right out of Nazi Germany you

can't honestly tell me that you don't

know what two plus two equals yeah it

all figured out don't you a smartass

little trap we some kind of

alright I'm sorry I am NOT gonna be able

to continue this conversation we're

gonna complain to the principal about

you Danny is a free thinker I'll have

your job not if you can't add two

and two together you won't mrs. Wilson

oh sorry principal I didn't see you I

understand you had an issue yesterday

with the parents of one of our students

did get a little crazy when things get

out of hand I really need you to let me

know about it

sure so how do you want to handle it I

guess you could apologize his mom hit me

I understand you told Danny he had a

wrong answer on his test he did have a

wrong answer on his test yeah it's not

our job to tell students when they're

right and wrong this is exactly what our

job is parents don't want you ramming

your biased views down their kids

throats

that's not biased that's how math works

you know it doesn't work your attitude

look maybe I can explain this in math

terms so you can understand if you took

all the kids in this classroom and

divided them by zero that's exactly the

amount of respect you're giving them

something you'd like to say you can't

divide a number by zero and get zero so

now I'm stupid some crazy administrator

doing paperwork while your superstar

teachers change the world

[Music]

please have a seat mrs. wells thank you

you know I honestly think this will all

blow over if we just wait a week or so

I'm afraid we can't do that why not

they're suing for what the emotional

distress to a minor this as well as can

you please tell the members of this

board exactly when you became aware of

this fiasco and the events leading up to

the riot riot I just told a students

that two plus two equals four we need

for you to recant that what just say

that you're open to the possibility

there might be multiple correct answer

but that's not true we can't let them

bully us and this is so stupid stupid

that's your problem

anyone who disagrees with you is stupid

there is nothing to disagree with there

is only one correct answer for your sake

I certainly hope you have that correct

answer when the media gets wind of this

I do it's for I have my own answer this

school minus u equals tomorrow

you're firing me suspending while you

reconsider your extremist views you

brought this on yourself

[Music]

breaking news in what's being called

masking an activist elementary school

teacher was caught abusing her students

First Amendment rights okay so this

teacher this liberal elitist tell this

innocent little first-grade kid that his

answer is wrong only her answers except

yeah from what I hear she didn't even

keep these students for more than a year

after that they all leave her and go to

another teacher

it's called graduating so it's creating

some good healthy debate in this country

some experts say that two plus two

equals four others say that it's 22 no

they don't hate America that much why

don't you just go teach you commie

friends

hello for everyone's benefit how about

the kids

[Music]

[Music]

mrs. wells thank you so much for coming

you know I'm just so sorry it happened

this way if only you'd been willing to

be more open-minded about math what

about academic integrity you were warned

given an explanation

and yet you persisted but we will of

course fulfill our financial obligations

now that's $2,000 for your last pay

period in two thousand for this one so

that's $4,000 wrong its 22,000

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]