Jose Vilson, PhD

thejosevilson.comOn Dignity [On CEC3 And The Racial Justice Work Ahead Of Us]A few weeks ago, I found myself underneath a dead whale. For New Yorkers, they know I'm talking about the American Museum of Natural History where the taxidermied mammal hangs above other exhibits in the Hall of Ocean Life. That night, Mayor Zohran Mamdani had invited people from across multiple sectors of the city to celebrate the Black History Month Centennial.

26 Mar

What does a dead whale have to do with controversy in New York City schools? Read on as I explore the concept of dignity and the CEC 3 incident. Let me know what you think.

Jose Vilson, PhD reposted

John Golden

@johngolden.bsky.social

So excited to see @thejosevilson.com in my mailbox! Timely and relevant, as is his wont.

thejosevilson.comWhat We Mean When We Say “Good School” (pt. 3)What did an awkward ride to the airport teach me about good schools? Read this story along with my reflections and let me know what you think here!

What We Mean When We Say “Good School” (pt. 3) What did an awkward ride to the airport teach me about good schools? Read this story along with my reflections and let me know what you think here!... https://thejosevilson.com/what-we-mean-when-we-say-good-school-pt-3/

thejosevilson.comWhat We Mean When We Say “Good School” (pt. 1)One problem is that American ideas of what it means to be a "good school" start from places of racism and deficit. In my first year of teaching, teachers shared tales of the district superintendent ripping down bulletin boards and tossing notebooks. The dean would call a "Code Blue" on the loudspeaker to mark his appearance for every adult. His slovenly appearance belied his desire to impose his will on schools from Harlem to Inwood.

22 Sept

What do we mean when we say a school is a "good school?" It sounds simple, but in my experience, it's a whole lot deeper. Read on: "What We Mean When We Say “Good School” (pt. 1)." https://thejosevilson.com/what-we-mean-when-we-say-good-school-pt-1/

thejosevilson.comTake It From Me [On The Mamdani Influencer Controversy]"Wild!" It's the first word I uttered as I saw the morning news talk about us. Even though the anchors didn't mention us by name, they were talking about "Mamdani influencers." Intentional scare quotes. Funny because a year ago, I wasn't even sure of whether Internet visibility made sense to me anymore. I hadn't received a check from my postdoc in months.

18 Sept

What was missing in the so-called Mamdani influencer controversy that no one's talking about? Read my notes at "Take It From Me [On The Mamdani Influencer Controversy]" https://thejosevilson.com/take-it-from-me-on-the-mamdani-influencer-controversy/

I'm here to tell people that the proliferation of gen-AI was, in some ways, inevitable in our schools. Let me explain:

We have many teachers who have been given too many students, thus too much to grade, and AI marketers promise to lighten their load where policymakers refused. So we shouldn't be surprised that a majority of teachers use it to lesson plan, grade, and assess students, even with incorrect results.

I don't know where this technology will take us, but I do think that we need to change the culture of teaching and learning. Moratoriums are fine, but they're a first step, not the only step. We need to believe in slowing down and learn deeply. Some solutions are there, but we gotta do better.

I'm here to tell people that the proliferation of gen-AI was, in some ways, inevitable in our schools. Let me explain:

Too many policymakers spent the last quarter-century simultaneously putting too much pressure on students and adults to raise test scores, providing no supports, and asking them to be more productive. The problems started before, but, despite our best efforts, the culture for schools has shifted.

We have a generation of students who often equate standardized testing with learning. This optimization makes it so schools narrow how to write, what to read, and how to talk about their work for colleges that swear students are supposed to come in already learned. AI functions similarly.

Jose Vilson, PhD reposted

It's wild that someone would think people are "politicizing" Dolly Parton's passing when much of what she fought for - literacy, vaccination, redistribution of resources to marginalized people - are talking points for the people who currently run the federal government. It's weird. Please.

Forum for Equity in Elementary Mathematics

24 Aug

I really miss Natasha Cloud on the New York Liberty. To be clear. Tonight and for the foreseeable future.

Jose Vilson, PhD reposted

@mathequityforum.bsky.social

19 Aug

"Many of us who teach math were more often than not the winners of a system that, at each stage of our K-12 journey, treats math like a sifter until only the finest powder makes it through. That’s one way of creating a society, but does it point towards an authentic democracy?" @thejosevilson.com

thejosevilson.comAnd Suddenly, There's a Math Book (You Already Know) | The Jose VilsonHow did You Already Know go from simple concept to published book? Jose Vilson describes the book writing process. Read on!

11 Aug

Anyway you read this is both disturbing and hilarious. Trump, you did it again.

Noah Shachtman@noahshachtman.bsky.social

the manliest

thejosevilson.comAnd Suddenly, There’s a Math Book (You Already Know)Note: This is a reminder that, if you became a paid subscriber to this blog, you'll get a signed copy of You Already Know from yours truly! If you'd like to support this scholar, feel free to go here. Remember when I told you I'd need a timeout so I could write a book? Welp, it's almost here and I'm so excited to share how we got here!

10 Aug

Wow, I wrote a whole math book that's about you, and us! Learn how I even got this book started and done! Find out how to be the first to get yours! Read more here: https://thejosevilson.com/and-suddenly-theres-a-math-book-you-already-know/

10 Aug

There’s a difference between telling someone the truth and being rude. So much of it comes down to whether you’re in community with the person. Internet people need to learn this.

As an adjunct professor looking for tenure track, I'll say it: I'm done worrying about whether my students are using LLMs for their papers, not because I don't worry about cheating or AI use. But because ultimately, every assignment is a documented relationship between the assigner and assignee.

... if the expectation is that I both detect LLM use *while* also taking their ideas and questions seriously, then that feels like twice the labor. I have ways of detecting dishonesty, but how do LLM analyzers trained on the world's best writing help me get my students on their journey?

I don't know. I research this stuff and "I don't know" is the prevailing answer for society. Assumptions run rampant, made more toxic by a handful of CEOs. But it feels icky all around. We gotta do better.

I don't wish to surveil my students or make unfounded claims about the tools they use. I wish for my students to build their own funds of knowledge, though. That's their work to consider, not mine. It feels contradictory, but:

thejosevilson.comThe Jose Vilson Newsletter | The Jose VilsonThe Jose Vilson Newsletter with insights about education, helping thousands of people have engaging conversations about math and beyond!

In my next blog post, I take you through the process of writing my forthcoming book You Already Know and I'm so excited for y'all to see what's inside. Yes, a few of my people show up in the text, too :-). (Don't miss it. Feel free to sign up to receive it here: thejosevilson.com/newsletter)

Some people learned the wrong lessons from that day and it shows.

Anjali Dayal@anjalikdayal.bsky.social

the argument against Mamdani attending the 9/11 anniversary, as far as I can tell, is literally just that he’s Muslim, and reposting it is just reporting rank racism

Forum for Equity in Elementary Mathematics

So. What did I miss?

Jose Vilson, PhD reposted

@mathequityforum.bsky.social

29 May

"It matters that students find themselves in this content area that, for too long, has felt dismembered from" many. "Math isn’t a badge we receive for greater exclusion from our communities. It’s a set of skills to help us pull more of us in." - @thejosevilson.com

thejosevilson.comThe Math Was Within Us All Along | The Jose VilsonNow that I finished my second book, let me tell you a story that won’t make it into the manuscript: A few weeks ago, I ... Read More

thejosevilson.comThe Math Was Within Us All AlongNow that I finished my second book, let me tell you a story that won’t make it into the manuscript: A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a high school focused on transformative learning experiences for students of various backgrounds. (Yes, they know who they are.) At some point, student volunteers took us around the building to check out some classes.

26 May

How do we change the narrative about who math belongs to? Here's an idea after having visited a high school last week. Read my latest and let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks!

thejosevilson.comJoin My People (from Social Media) | The Jose VilsonReady to learn more about teaching and learning with an expert perspective? Please use the links below so we can work together: Get The Jose ... Read More

25 May

Love to my people on here. Two things: 1) I finally finished that manuscript for my forthcoming book about math education. 2) I'm writing about it on my blog. If you'd like to be part of my people, please join me here. Your support would mean a lot. Thank you! thejosevilson.com/join-my-peop...

30 Apr

Thinking about the Supreme Court decision: When people say, x is a distraction, I like to tell people: actually none of it is. What we're witnessing is a wholesale totalitarian effort to reshape society in ways that benefit Trump, the oligarchy, and those who wish to espouse that.

30 Apr

Notice that none of this is happening one at a time, but happening all at once. All purposeful. Let's act accordingly.

29 Apr

One thing about this White House Correspondents Dinner nonsense: It's not simply lying. It's eroding notions of trust and truth. But the same people who erode that trust are surprised that fewer and fewer people trust them on anything, either. Those go hand in hand.

27 Apr

This morning, New York City's chancellor withdrew a proposal for an AI-driven high school ahead of our PEP (read: school board) meeting. Ed-tech shouldn't be driving the conversation about education or technology. Students, educators, and communities should. GenAI is not inevitable.

23 Apr

When I say research and sociology have been helpful in understanding the world around me, I mean that when ICE came knocking at my door this morning, I was already prepared for the specter. The panopticon has been part of our lived experience before the academy bestowed the PhD on me.

21 Apr

For years, we kept being told they were in favor of small government and deregulation. With AI, they're demonstrating maximum government and regulation of everything.

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20 Apr

All I’m saying is: If you’re an artist, writer, musician, or anyone doing good work involving the mind and heart, I couldn’t be more proud of you. The fact that people want to create and grow things despite and because of the times we’re living in is cause for celebration.

20 Apr

That goes double for folks who actually get to the finished line on their products.

17 Apr

I wish more people who researched teachers actually treated them as intellectual equals as opposed to separate objects for basic analysis. It says a lot about how we treat teachers, but also what we think of our work with children more generally.

15 Apr

With the cost of all the bombs dropped on schools and places of worship across the world, we could better invest in the lives of every human being on the planet. We don't have to accept the status quo of war. I promise you.

14 Apr

The best academics are also some of the most generous with their knowledge. When they say some people are walking libraries, I mean I could sit there and just listen to them build worlds right in front of me. Even the ones that seem "untouchable" share without hesitation. We should be so fortunate.

13 Apr

One reason Trump feels comfortable attacking the Pope is that leaders of faith-based spaces conflated wealthy for piety and exceptionalism for their audience. Ironically, greed is among the first sins named in Christianity. But exceptionalism trumps integrity for too many people. A mess.

12 Apr

Another year, another academic conference where it felt like the bibliography of my dissertation came to life. It was nice going to @aeraedresearch.bsky.social if only because it's the one space I can reliably see all my faves at once. But I never get to see *everyone* I want to see.

7 Apr

Did this man just say an "entire civilization will die tonight?" Note to the country: maybe don't give the nuclear codes to someone who Republicans will immediately say "Don't take him so seriously!" as he keeps tapping the buttons.

7 Apr

You "don't do politics," but politics keeps doing you, and us, like this.

2 Apr

I love how my people on here are really nerding out over Artemis II. Even the nonsense at the White House can't stop the mirth, and that's saying something.

1 Apr

As we're getting closer to a collective technological mistrust, it's great that more people are starting to see the value of arts and humanities. Strong writing, music, art, and photography. From a sociological perspective, trust is shifting to actual human beings. Our saving grace. We got us.

1 Apr

More students are having conversations with each other about the deluge of AI getting thrown at them. Some are going straight up analog, despite all the coding classes thrown at them. Ed-tech constantly talk up "disruption," but it's the students doing it via art, music, etc. I remain hopeful.