Invasion of the Math Snatchers

The Independence Institute ^ | Barry Fagin

[hsmomx3]

"Math is hard, let's go shopping!"

When Mattel released a talking Barbie who offered that bit of teenage wisdom, public reaction was so furious they pulled her off the shelves. Mattel is still trying to recover from the PR disaster.

I assume they fired the guy who came up with that little gem. Not that it mattered much.

I have every confidence he's enjoying a new career, designing math programs for American public schools.

What else can I think about programs that encourage children to "shop" for the correct way to multiply? That ask kids what "color" they think math is, like it's some sort of lip gloss? It'd be funny, if it weren't so tragic.

It's tragic because, in a modern global economy, mathematical literacy is essential. The most important product humanity produces in the 21st century is information. Working with information requires intellectual discipline and the ability to think abstractly. That's what math is all about.

Unfortunately, other countries do a much better job of teaching math than we do, with potentially serious consequences. Why shouldn't American firms contract out high-tech jobs to engineers from overseas, if that makes them more competitive?

Do you know any immigrants at your school? Ask Asian or European families what they think about math classes. Chances are their children placed into the most advanced math the district has to offer, yet are still having a very easy time.

My own experience as a teacher bears this out. I am proud to be on the faculty at one of the most selective colleges in America. My students are America's best and brightest.

And yet, when I went to Russia on sabbatical, I couldn't believe how good my students were at math. After two weeks of class, I had to redo all my lesson plans. I wound up covering more material in more detail than I had thought possible. It was a great experience, but a sobering indictment of American education.

Fortunately, what American students lack in fundamentals they make up in initiative and creativity. It's a constant struggle to get Russian students to 'think outside the box," while my American classes are always abuzz with interesting ideas. Fix the math problems, and American students will do great things.

So how do we do that?

First we have to undo two decades' worth of damage done by faddish mathematical programs. Here's how you can tell if your school has one:

Your school emphasizes children "discovering" or "constructing" their own techniques for arithmetic. This is nice in theory, but most children lack the intellectual curiosity and focus to discover even basic arithmetic rules. Besides, it took humanity a couple of millennia to develop the math we have now. Asking a roomful of 4th graders to start from scratch is an idea only an education professor could've come up with.

Your school de-emphasizes drills. "Boring" facts like multiplication tables and algebra formulas are no fun to teach, but they're an essential part of developing mathematical fluency. If your child's teacher doesn't pay much attention to drills or thinks math facts aren't important, be on the alert.

Your school encourages extensive, early calculator use. Calculators are appropriate once mathematical fluency has been gained. But they're crippling if introduced too soon, particularly in the early grades. There is a big difference between a child who knows *why* six times seven is forty-two, and a child who merely pushes "6 X 7 =" on a calculator.

Fortunately, all is not lost. There are some terrific mathematics programs out there, ones that are both rigorous and fun. They're ready and available to replace the silliness we have now, if only parents will demand them.

But it won't be easy. We'll have to do our part. We must support teachers who set high standards. We must support schools that hold students accountable. We must understand that self-esteem in mathematics is earned, not given. It comes from getting the right answer.

These and other "back to basics" ideas fly in the face of the modern educational establishment. They are in direct contradiction to incentives parents, teachers, and administrators face on a daily basis. Trying to solve this problem will be very, very hard.

But so what? Math is hard. Let's go to work.

(c)2004 The Independence Institute

[kingu]

An excellent program, and one I hope that spreads into more elementary classrooms. I'm curious though - all of our middle schools have specialized math classes.. How does the accelerated math program work in your middle school? Is it part of a remedial math program, or ???

[Land of the Free 04]

There is a big difference between a child who knows *why* six times seven is forty-two, and a child who merely pushes "6 X 7 =" on a calculator.

I give up---*why* is six times seven forty-two?

[Democratshavenobrains]

I refuse to engage in difficult mathematics arguements. I prefer to employ the "Al Sharpton Approach". Math was just created by the WHITE SLAVEHOLDERS, for the WHITE SLAVEHOLDERS, and has no relevence to MY life.

[Pardon Me]

I teach in a tiny school in a rural state. My husband and I are the entire "Math Department!" We use the program as our curriculum in 5th through 8th grade. I have taught Math and remedial Math for 25 years and am very much old school when in comes to memorizing facts, etc. I have seen fads come and go in education, so I was reluctant to try this program at first. I am very pleased with the results thus far. The students love the program which helps tremendously.

[Land of the Free 04]

But isn't Louis Farrakhan (sp?) a big fan of numbers?

[kingu]

Ahh! Makes much more sense now, and I could see how such a program could be a great boon to a rural school. I didn't even consider such a thing. And anything that kids like that works is something to support.

[lilylangtree]

To go along with the math, I was in a bookstore some time ago. Four older teenages (3 females and a male) walked in and started browsing. Overheard one girl talking about some books that she read. Another girl pipes up and says: "Oh, I remember reading a book but it was long time ago."

[dandelion]

I'm having a really hard time finding a comprehensive math program for my son. He's only 5 1/2, but he's quite advanced with mathematics - he's able to add "thousands" in his head (1244 + 1244 = 2488, etc) without even writing down or seeing the equation.

He's also doing triple-digit subtraction, simple multiplication and division; he's able to balance simple fractions, and he, of his own accord, is now doing some simple algebra (10 + X = 15). He seems to have a profound understanding of the mechanics and structure of mathematics, and as a result not approaching math in a linear form - rather, he's literally "exploding" into all the disciplines at once.

My only approach to math has been quite laid back; "Math Made Simple" math blocks (nice for visual representations of base ten), marbles (sets), and flash cards for addition and subraction. In other words, I'm way out of my league here. I had expected to be able to teach up to sixth grade math without difficulty, but at this rate that will be next year.

HELP! HELP!! I can't add in my head even!!!

I'm not even gonna get started on the reading or science end of this - I went in the bathroom the other day to find out what was taking so long, and the little man was sitting there reading U.S. News and World report - looking up the news on Saddam's Capture... and he understood most of it.

I'm going to have to revamp my whole approach to home-school kindergarten here... any suggestions for a math program?

[dandelion]

Correction: the blocks are by "Math-U-See", not "Math Made Simple"...

[Carry_Okie]

I'm sorry to say, I invented my own math program because I was unhappy with Saxon. My 11-year-old is now doing college calculus. Her sister isn't far behind. The key was to use algebra to teach arithmetic. There is no text of which I know that can do what I did, althouth the "Keys Series" of workbooks is a start.

[Carry_Okie]

My 15 year old used Saxon and he completed College Algebra last semester with an A, and is starting his College Trig class this semester.

My 11 year old is doing college calculus.

[Tribune7]

ping

[dawn53]

My point is, Saxon is a fine math text. My son is not a genius, I wouldn't even call him gifted, but we used Saxon consistently and got good results.

So to say Saxon isn't an adequate text isn't necessarily true in every case.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

"Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house."
  -- Lazarus Long, "Time Enough for Love"

[hsmomx3]

I have heard that Singapore Math was pretty good. I have never seen it but I trust others here can guide you in the proper direction.

[hsmomx3]

Not math related but a very popular book in the schools around here is, "The Giver." Has anyone ever read this book?

[hsmomx3]

Can you provide some more insight about Saxon in the upper grades? Thanks!!

[Criminal Number 18F]

The program you are referring to is called Accelerated Math.

How far does it go? (in both grade and mathematical terms -- algebra? trig? calc I?) Got a link?

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Carry_Okie]

My point is, Saxon is a fine math text.

I understood your point. We disagree.

My son is not a genius, I wouldn't even call him gifted, but we used Saxon consistently and got good results.

Honestly, my kids are bright, but not geniuses. If you have an average kid, Saxon is, IMO, a repetitive bore that does not do a good job of teaching applications or theory.

So to say Saxon isn't an adequate text isn't necessarily true in every case.

Perhaps by American standards you could defend that point. Unfortunately, this nation ranks near the bottom of the industrialized world. It's not unusual for eight-year-olds in Japan to be doing what we consider to be high school algebra.

[AmericanVictory]

We favor Yoruba math, because we all know that the math now being taught is a white european plot and that it was stolen from the Yoruba, along with the space program.