Fighting Alternative Facts: Teaching Quantitative Reasoning with Social Issues

Abstract

Mathematics has a unique and powerful role to play in the teaching of social justice issues. There is substantial quantitative evidence for social injustice, but many citizens lack the quantitative skills to understand that evidence. A course in quantitative literacy is a unique opportunity to provide this quantitative understanding to a wide range of students in a general education context. Quantitative literacy skills provide citizens with the tools they need to critically analyze misinformation and make good decisions about civic issues.