[Othniel]

There has been all manner of conflict between Milgram and another Stanford professor named Jo Boaler. Boaler's research into the teaching of math has shown that the more engagement is needed if kids are to learn the processes and calculations better than they do in a traditional, drill and kill setting. Her research, both in England and in the US, has gone on for years, and is available online and elsewhere. Boaler has worked with Stanford to offer free, online courses to teachers and parents to improve math fluency and knowledge. I've been teaching for 30 years, and I agree with Boaler's methods. That said, I think the math involved in Common Bore needs to be a lot less 'deconstructive' and more to the point of solving the problem by whatever means necessary.

Do a yahoo search for Boaler. To read about the war that has gone on between her and Milgram, go to this: http://web.stanford.edu/~joboaler/ and you can read about some of the unprofessional conduct Milgram has engaged in. Boaler advocates teaching math like the Japanese and other countries do: with a problem-base setting that allows the kids to explore and explain how and why they arrive at answers. It takes a lot of work on the part of the teacher to make it work, but it is worth it in the long run.

[dsrtsage]

The new math

1 = 1
1 = 1 * 1
1 = 1²
1=√(1²)
1 = √1 * √1

1 = (-1) * (-1)
1 = (-1)²
1 = √(-1)²
1 = √(-1) * √(-1)
1 = i * i
1 = i²
1 = -1

[kvanbrunt2]

left has a problem with math/science because it’s based on rules. don’t know the rules ya don’t do science. that is why there is no science today in any school.

[Adder]

traditional, drill and kill setting.

Not sure what the “kill” part of your statement is but the drill method raised many generations of /Americans and enabled us to produce the greatest generation and inventions that were undreamed of at the end of the 1800’s. It was with the advent of “new math” and ways to teach it that math became impossible to learn. Not everyone WANTS to know all of the intricacies of math processes.
Seems to me we don’t teach the basics then move on. We jump to teach theory and the poor kids don’t learn anything.

For the vast majority of kids we need them to know the basics such as the multiplication tables. We do not teach those much anymore because we want them to reason it out.
I disagree with that...we want them to be able to make change. To do at least rudimentary stuff because for many that is all they will ever do. Those who have the curiosity and the bent for it can do the reasoning it out stuff.
Math is never going to be enjoyable to many.

iMHO.

[FamiliarFace]

“It takes a lot of work on the part of the teacher to make it work, but it is worth it in the long run.”

This is the problem for American teachers, parents, and students in American public schools. It is also why homeschooling works well for so many.

Now if schools ever become places where discipline and hard work are rewarded again, maybe there will be a chance at success. As they are now, teachers have become babysitters for many of their students.

[wintertime]

Hm? ......Jo Boaler is an “educaaaaator” and Milgram is in the trenches doing real math.

You have one thing going for you that I can determine. At least you call yourself a teacher.

Teachers, by the way, have the lowest average SAT, ACT, and GRE scores on campus. If you are smart, then out there in “government school land” is a really dumb teacher that accounts for the average scores. Scary!