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Only 16 percent of Michigan high school graduates "college-ready" -Kalamazoo Gazette
Excerpt: Only one in six -- 16 percent of the new graduates -- have a strong probability of obtaining a "C" or better in college English, social studies, algebra and biology, according to an analysis posted on a Michigan Department of Education Web site. The full article is here. 8-9-09 Kalamazoo Gazette
"Proposed controversial textbooks could start math wars in Highline (WA) schools" 5/21/09
Excerpts: "Highline School District may have entered the "math wars" as administrators recommended on May 13 adoption of a new algebra curriculum that would include textbooks from the controversial "Discovering Mathematics" series". . . . "The Discovering series emphasizes allowing students to find math concepts on their own--often working in groups" . . . . "A study by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has labeled the Discovering series as "mathematically unsound" but concluded it aligned with the state's educational standards. " - Eric Mathison, Highline Times The full article is here.
Six Hour School Board Meeting; 10 Math Motions; No Decisions 5/6/09
Nontraditional math decried as 'fluff' in Frederick (MD) -Baltimore Sun, May 17, 2009
Excerpt: [I]n Frederick County, the introduction of a new math textbook has caused a minor revolt by county residents, 600 of whom have signed a petition to persuade the county school board to return to a more traditional approach.
Full article
Greece Central School District (NY) Replaces "Reform" Curriculum
Excerpts from New Democrat 3/23/09 article: The Greece Central School District is dropping an elementary school math program that's been the center of a decade-long national controversy over how children should learn mathematics. At issue has been whether memorization of math facts and algorithms should be de-emphasized in favor of letting children explore math concepts without the strict boundaries of traditional math teaching methods. Across the country, communities have been at odds with school leaders over so-called "reform math" approaches that critics deride as "fuzzy." They say the method leaves students unprepared for algebra, dependent on calculators and never provides a foundation in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Reform supporters say nontraditional approaches to math make learning easier and more enjoyable for students who are then better able to remember and apply math concepts.... Come September, Greece students will be getting there with a program called Math Expressions, which a February report from the U.S. Institute of Education Sciences said resulted in greater math achievement than the program the school district has been using since 2000. Nearly 10 years ago, the Greece Central School District adopted a reform math program called Investigations in Number, Data and Space, said Mariano. The district's current program — introduced nationally over the past 20 years and locally over the past 10 — has long been derided by critics as fuzzy math because of its nontraditional approach to instruction. Children are encouraged to use hands-on methods to solve problems and are not required to memorize math facts and algorithms. Reform math and its most popular textbooks — Investigations for elementary schoolers, Connected Mathematics for middle-schoolers and Core-Plus Mathematics for high schools — generated parent outcry from Washington to Maine, and even sparked a group of Penfield parents to protest their district's introduction of the program.... For the full article, click here.
Controversial math program rejected (River Dell NJ) 3/17/09
After a vociferous outcry from parents against what they called a controversial math program, the River Dell Regional Board of Education opted not to adopt Connected Mathematics.
The decision last night was in response to a request from the Tri-District Math Committee, which had asked the superintendents of Oradell, River Dell and River Edge to use Connected Mathematics alongside the traditional math curriculum in Grade 7.
“I remain hopeful that the three districts will come together in order to present a unified curriculum for our students so that they can be successful in their future endeavors,” River Dell Superintendent Patrick Fletcher said.
He acknowledged that the board may eventually reconsider. “We’re trying to take our time,” he said. “I hope that this shows to people that we are considering the comments that have been raised by the members of the public.”
The board in River Edge, one of two elementary districts that send students to the regional middle school and high school, approved using Connected Mathematics in the sixth grade. The other district, Oradell, rejected it for sixth-graders in a unanimous vote last week.
Connected Mathematics attempts to foster a deeper understanding of math principles and problem solving, but some parents expressed concerns that the program doesn't focus enough on basic math. Parents who were already on edge about Everyday Mathematics, a similar program for elementary school students used in River Edge and Oradell, were particularly concerned.
Among the numerous parents who complained was Jane Daly, whose fifth-grader started Everyday Mathematics at Roosevelt School in River Edge this year.
“It’s been a lost year for these guys,” Daly said at a meeting for parents at River Dell Middle School last week. “I don’t think my kids are going to have what they need to get good SAT scores.”
Fletcher had said Connected Math would not replace traditional teaching methods, but that apparently did not calm anxious parents.
“I think the basic impression everyone has is that we’re going to throw out every single textbook that we have and throw out every single aspect of the curriculum that’s working now,” Fletcher said at a math forum held at the middle school last week. “That’s not true.”
Fletcher argued that Connected Mathematics would allow students to get a more in-depth understanding of math concepts.
The evidence that Connected Mathematics improves students’ abilities is inconclusive, according to the federal Department of Education. Only one of three studies showed positive results. Two others were inconclusive.
E-mail: yellin@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/education/Controversial_math_program_rejected.html
Proof of Anaheim teacher's skills in in the students' test scores - LAT - 3/08/09
"The former engineer has won a national honor for his energetic commitment in the classroom. Last year his young charges, who think he may be the best math teacher anywhere, aced the AP calculus test."
The full story is here.
