Calvin is a sixth-grade African American male student in a school district in the southeastern United States. As an elementary school student, Calvin earned the highest level of achievement on his state's standardized mathematics test in grades 3, 4, and 5. In addition, he scored in the 98th percentile on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in mathematics. On all objective measures in mathematics, Calvin performed well and, in most cases, excelled. In addition, he earned A's and B's consistently in mathematics. Calvin stated that mathematics is his favorite subject and that mathematics comes naturally to him and is easy. He loves challenging mathematics problems and mathematics puzzles.
Robert Q. Berry III, is interested in equity issues in mathematics education and mathematics as a social construct.
Edited by JENNIFER BAY-WILLIAMS, jbay@ksu.edu, who teaches undergraduate and graduate mathematics education courses at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506.