Math Terrorists Among Us

Beware of the math terrorists here in the Alpine School District!  (You know who you are.)

'Terrorist' is a strong word you say?  Well how about the word 'extremist?'  They are synonymous -- particularly in our present culture.  Why would I use the word 'extremist?'  I wouldn't, but the Alpine school superintendent would.  Was this some accidental misstatement before the Orem city council?  Nope.  In fact, Sup. Henshaw repeated and reiterated his use of the word 'extremist,' justifying its use.  He has finally resorted to trying to discrediting the opponents of his disastrous math agenda through name calling (picking one of the ugliest terms possible), since he failed in his use of logic and reasoning.

For those that aren't aware, many teachers, students, and patrons of the Alpine School District have suffered under the tyranny of the Investigations math program.  Teachers were threatened for trying to supplement the math curriculum.  Parents were demeaned for their concerns, labeled as ignorant of what was beneficial for their students.  Multiplication tables were jettisoned, drill-n-kill was banished, all in the name of Investigations.  The district rushed out an ill-suited program to an unprepared faculty.  An extreme overreaction to growing concerns over the mathematics skill level within the district.  The extreme tactics of the district resulted in a severe revulsion on the part of many dedicated teachers and caring parents.  (Investigations is the most common complaint I receive about the Alpine School District.)

Now the district is espousing the importance of "balanced math" through yet another new program.  To appease parents, open houses were held at local schools leading the public to think that its input mattered, but then curriculum decisions were made behind closed doors with the public excluded from those discussions.  Each school was to choose one program, regardless of how well it met the needs of each student.    Saxon, despite its popularity with many parents, was frowned upon by the establishment as "not balanced" and "too scripted," regardless of how well it would have met the learning needs of some students.

The superintendent is continuing to use our students as guinea pigs in his social experiment, while simultaneously degrading caring parents who disagree with his agenda.

Well, if caring about what your student learns in school makes you an extremist, please add me to the list!

Comments

[Anonymous]

Do you have an Ed.D like Superintendent Henshaw? Are you certified to teach?

I thought so. Yet you think you have the right to tell professional educators how to run schools. Educators are the experts and somehow you and all the other unqualified parents seem to think you know better.

Why don't you guys just shut up and pay your taxes?

[Anonymous 2]

Dear Anonymous,
Your attitude is exactly what is killing us in education! You tell everyone else, including other professional educators, to just shut up (and give money). It wasn't just the "non-educators" who opposed this. Many veteran teachers and professors also know how extreme Investigations is and suffered from the tyranny of the Nazi district curriculum people who shoved it down our throats.
Now ALL of the professional educators, including those who opposed Investigations, are suffering the consequences of your extreme program and administration of it, which include charter schools and the voucher threat, but you still don't get it. IT IS YOU AND YOUR KIND THAT DID THIS TO US!!!!
It would have been better if YOU and the Superintendent had listened to the parents and other teachers instead of making them turn to their legislators to find a listening ear. Ultimately those kids are the responsibility of the parents. You are just hired to teach them, which Investigations doesn't do.

[David Ramos]

Mr. Dougall is exactly right about this topic. My children have been subjected to this math program. It would be a good program under three conditions. First, it can’t be the only way students are allowed to learn math. It’s really better as supplemental material. Second, the teachers need to be fully trained on how to use it. Many of my children’s teachers don’t understand the goal of the program any better than the parents. Third, significant effort must be made to increase parents understanding of the program.

I believe that the bulk of complaints coming from parents about this program are due to lack of understanding of the program. Parents who read the materials that come home from school don’t understand what they are reading. This is because the materials are very poorly written. Some of the instructions are so bad, I have had to re-read them multiple times and then make a guess at the goal. Parents without a strong understanding of math are left feeling the program is stupid.

Parents are not the only ones who don’t like the program. Many of the teachers don’t either. Should I mention that my wife has been left in a classroom to teach this math program (as a volunteer parent with no Ed.D or teaching certificate?)

For those that believe only those with Ed.D or teaching certificates should be allowed to teach, I say this: pull your head out! Those of us with significant math background do not like being told that we do not understand math or how to teach it by people who have little or no math background. Educator does imply Expert. The fact is my wife and I have had to supplement the school program in order to make sure our children can perform to State standards. My children’s school is very good at teaching reading, but really poor at teaching math.

Mr. Dougall’s arguments are really about more than the Investigations math program. It really is about the disdain educators have toward parents and students. There is nothing a Ed.D hates more than a well-educated and concerned parent.

[Pam]

Too bad - Alpine missed the boat by discounting Saxon Math as they narrowed their choices. Is Saxon scripted? Yes. Does it allow for investigations and supporting material - certainly, by any teacher willing to put forth the effort to offer it. Alpine District left behind a program that allows for continual practice on various concepts, requires parental involement in the younger grades through homework assignments, and teaches math in a building block method. Not only did Alpine dicount a great curriculum, but they discounted the thoughts and opinions of many, including educators and parents who voiced valid opinions and concerns. What a loss!

[Carl Wimmer]

That persons first comment is the epitome of a socialist know it all. "WE are the educated ones, WE will tell YOU what to do, you mindless PION!" I ask, does John Stockton have a ABCD-PHD, or whatever that person said. NO! but show me a teacher anywhere who could teach basketball better>>>

[Anon]

I think the first comment was tongue-in-cheek! It didn't sound serious to me, anyway. I, too have been happy to see the district move away from Investigations, but the movement has been slow, begrudging, and incomplete. I'm afraid the district is still trying to hang onto some elements of Investigations even after it's been discredited. I spoke with one elementary teacher recently who asked where my kids go to school. I said we moved them to a charter school because of the math problem. She asked what math they're getting, and I said it's Saxon. She then got that superior, condescending look and almost patted me on the head as she said, "You know, Saxon has been shown to be an inferior math program. It's really not rigorous enough for our district's children." I got a little mad and asked what our district could possibly know about rigor when they've stuck with a lousy, feel-good, play-with-silly-objects kind of math program for the past six years! She realized I knew a little about this and then admitted that she really didn't know much about Saxon math! They're indoctrinating our teachers to criticize Saxon math when they really don't even know much about it! I thought it was an amazing example of a bureaucracy trying to justify its stupid decisions!