Escondido Group Petitions School Board

The following motion has been presented to the Escondido Board of Trustees. It is in line with the Academics-Based Education (ABE) Resolution passed recently by the San Diego County Board of Education. The quoted parts of this document are taken directly from the county document. The board will hear this at it's next meeting on the Jan 23, 1996.

To: The Escondido Union High School District Board of Trustees

From: Parents for Math Choice

Subject: Math Choice

We motion that the board consider requiring:

That all High Schools in the district offer the traditional sequence of Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, and Calculus. This will "reintroduce mathematics programs that focus on computation and correct mathematical answers".
That each High School offer Honors and Advanced Placement courses in these traditional math programs on the High School campus.
That the High Schools identify experimental programs such as "Integrated Math" as experimental to parents at registration, with parents and children OPTING INTO, AND NOT OUT OF, these programs.
That the schools "group students by ability to learn".
That the High Schools teach and assess traditional students as individuals, and not as groups.
That teachers be "experts, managers, and directors, rather than simply be facilitators".
That the district develop scientically quantifiable standards for the math curricula by grade level, disseminate these standards as content requirements for all math curricula (including experimental programs), and test students uniformly against those standards. The board should ensure that "the district schools promote high standards while assisting all students to meet these standards".

We ask this in light of the following facts:

The present array of programs, including CPM/DAVIS and IMP are not proven to be effective by independent analysis of student test data. The test conditions required for such analysis would include test materials, uniformity of student ability, and teacher preparation. (from Professor Wayne Bishop, Cal State L.A.)
The Math Task Force for Delaine Eastin recommended an addendum to the current Math Framework to include "Balance" in mathematical computation, finding the current "visionary" curricula deficient.
In December, the State Board of Education found that a supplement or addendum would not be enough, and that the entire Math Framework needed to be revised. Dr. Henry Alder spoke to the board before it reached this decision.
The San Diego County Board of Education recently voted to adopt an Academics-Based Education (ABE) Resolution which includes most of the above guidelines.
There is a nationwide argument among mathematics educators themselves as to whether or not the new approaches to math work better or worse than the traditional courses. We, the Parents for Math Choice, feel the district schools should keep traditional math until other curricula is proven to work better, and the parents and the teaching staff agree to the change.
There is a growing parent distrust of the current "Visionary" mathematics programs embraced by the district, as well as a substantial loss of support for the schools as evidenced by a recent PTO meeting at Orange Glen.