Quote of the Day: Remedial Math

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From a math instructor in the California State University system, after one of his remedial students suggested she might have a mathematics learning disability:

“You very well might have a math learning disability. Such disabilities are prevalent and very real, but in your case, I think there might be stronger indicators at play here. Your attendance thus far is 50%, so you might have a showing up disability. You have turned in 30% of the homework thus far, so you might have a doing your homework disability. While I don’t discourage you from getting tested for a math disability, I urge you not to discount those other two factors.” Because of that comment, I never taught remedial math again.

Who knows? Maybe this guy is just a prick. But don’t tell me you didn’t laugh at this.

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With only days left until December 31, we've raised about half of our $400,000 goal—but we need a huge surge in reader support to close the remaining gap. Whether you've given before or this is your first time, your contribution right now matters.

Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do. That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

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