Posted on 11/20/2007 9:51:41 PM PST by ari-freedom
The state of Texas has dropped a math curriculum that is mandated for use in New York City schools, saying it was leaving public school graduates unprepared for college.
The curriculum, called Everyday Mathematics, became the standard for elementary students in New York City when Mayor Bloomberg took control of the public schools in 2003.
About three million students across the country now use the program, including students in 28 Texas school districts, and industry estimates show it holds the greatest market share of any lower-grade math textbook, nearly 20%. But Texas officials said districts from Dallas to El Paso will likely be forced to drop it altogether after the Lone Star State's Board of Education voted to stop financing the third-grade textbook, which failed to teach students even basic multiplication tables, a majority of members charged.
One board member, Terri Leo, who is also a Texas public school teacher, called the textbook "the very worst book that we had submitted." This year, the board of education received 163 textbooks for consideration.
The board chairman, Don McLeroy, said the vote was part of a larger effort to prepare more Texas students for college. "We're paying millions of dollars to the publishing industry," Mr. McLeroy said. "We might as well get something back."
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
Notice that Bloomfield still likes it.
I wonder whether he is getting power/wealth/privilege from the publisher/writer/NEA; or if he thinks that NYC students don’t need to know anything.
it’s as if bloombug wants people to fail
It’s big that Texas dropped. Most textbooks are written for California, Texas, and New York.
Good for Texas. The school textbook industry is one of the most brazen criminal enterprises in the world, worse even than the cafeteria milk business. Heck, it puts the old record companies to shame. I’m pretty sure the mob is in on it, and the politicians definitely are.
Let’s just hope the real reason Texas didn’t flip them the finger is because somebody else offered the pols a bigger cut.
the sad thing is that crack dealers will have better math skills than NY kids
I have struggled against the Everyday Math program in my local school district. It is the primary reason that I pulled my children out of public school.
The basic theory of Everyday Math is that there are multiple processes that can be used in calculation. For example, there is more than one way to do division, “long division” is only one process. The concept is to introduce several processes and each student will utilize the process that clicks for them. However, there are students that need one process and lots of repetition in order to be able to properly perform that math function. Everyday Math does not support those students.
When I pulled my child out of public school, she was making a 30 in math. Three years in Saxton Math (likely what you and I grew up with), and my child just got her first A EVER in math. The change in her confidence is remarkable.
I think it’s worse than just the fact they aren’t mastering essential skills. I’m all for discovery after the basics are mastered. But they want to make math a joke, with all kinds of fluff, easy questions and the use of calculators.
A lot of people feel Saxon + Singapore provides the best combination because Singapore teaches how to think and solve problems creatively the right way. For example see http://www.welltrainedmind.com/J01singapore.html
Let me say this about Saxon: We used Saxon 5/4 through Saxon Alg. 2 when we homeschooled. Starting at 10th grade, we used dual enrollment, so the “kid” had to take the College Placement Exam at the end of 9th grade. He tested into College Alg (with room to spare) and like I said, we had only completed Saxon Alg 2. The “kid” went on to the higher maths with no problem. I’m a Saxon believer!!!
THere are a lot of “education” programs here on NY’s channel 25, owned partly by CUNY (City of NY University). Ive seen a lot of drivel there channel surfing, including programs on this multiple process nonsense.
The real danger isnt the textbook companies in this case, but the Education degree itself. “Theory” has infected much of the non-hard sciences and so the Education degrees are not about what to teach, but the theory of teaching.
And so the children suffer. Its not that Bloomberg doesnt care, he’s so detached from the daily life of this city that he couldn’t care.
I know what you mean
http://www.runet.edu/~thompson/obias.html
Here is a real math test question that, sadly, is not a joke.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002927599_bcc13e.html
.....WOW....and see how many politically correct and useless, liberal positions were created? Now, they will have to be funded, with assistents, computers, office space, etc, etc. What a waste!
Is Saxton something that would be available to me as an at home helping tool?
In Tennessee, they are having to provide remedial math to about 20% of incoming college students, after they supposedly passed their state-mandated Gateway tests for competence.
I fart in their general direction!
http://saxonhomeschool.harcourtachieve.com/en-US/saxonhomeschool.htm
I know of some home schoolers who use the program and I believe that there are those who use the program as a home tutor/teaching aid.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.