Mathematically Correct Headline
Feb. 20, 1996
Math Forum Rerun Held
at Muirlands Middle School
The previous Math Forum was held on Feb. 1, but, due to the
teachers strike, district officials announced shortly before the meeting
that they would be unable to attend. A second meeting was scheduled and held
this evening. Vance Mills, Math/Science instructional team leader,
and Janet Trentacosta, Math/Science specialist, appeared as representatives of
the district.
Candidates for the Board of Education - Joyce Singer Abrams, Barbara Carpenter,
Elaine Springer and Francis O'Neill Zimmerman from District A,
and Ed Fletcher from District E - made the extra effort to
attend this meeting and hear parent and community feeling on this issue.
Special note should also be taken of the many math teachers who attended.
About 400 people attended this important meeting, including representatives
of the CPM program.
The meeting was opened by Cassandra Countryman, Principal of Muirlands, who
provided the introductions. Jay Tarvin, Principal of La Jolla High School,
agreed to moderate the meeting and gave an opening address. Vance Mills then
gave an overview of the district's perspective. Mike McKeown of Mathematically
Correct then gave an introduction to the issues as viewed by Mathematically Correct.
The rest of the meeting was given over to parent comments and concern about
the new programs, as well as to questions as to how to proceed to restore
traditional algebra and geometry courses. Nearly all comments expressed concern
about the changes to math programs, and many were directed at the exact procedures to
restore the option of taking traditional courses.
Specifically, the following options were identified:
- Schools CAN buy their own books
- Schools CAN get money from their Districts for books the school chooses
- Districts CAN get waivers from the State
- Districts CAN get money from the State for books that are NOT reform math
- Districts CAN offer choice
Mathematically Correct recommended the following District Policy Changes:
- Provide for substantial involvement of parents in curriculum decisions
- Develop assessment programs to evaluate new curricula using nationally recognized, standardized tests in pre-test/post-test designs
- Tell parents the truth about the documents that guide the development of Reform Math
- Tell parents that these new programs are experimental
- Give parents a choice between Reform Math and Traditional Programs
Before leaving, many parents signed petitions requesting the option of
traditional math instruction for their children.