The next battle over Prince William’s Math Investigations Program will be at the March 4th School Board Meeting (See the Electronic School Board Agenda here.). Will the Opt In Option for Traditional Math pass? Unless parents speak up, it is not likely to do so. The board still seems to be placing its hopes on the blended approach.
At Wednesday’s School Board meeting meeting Coles District representative Michael Otaigbe presented another idea to the board.
He wrote up a seven-point “alternative motion” that favors a blended approach to math instruction, meaning that classroom teachers would teach with both traditional math methods and the Math Investigations books.
School officials have said that the blended approach is what’s currently used in county schools, but some parents said they don’t see evidence of that.
Otaigbe’s motion says that Math Investigations textbooks and traditional math workbooks would be provided for all students in an effort to “support a blended approach to the teaching of mathematics.” Advanced students should be given “additional or more complex problems and activities” to challenge them, the motion says. (from here)
Nonetheless, the parents advocating Traditional Math have not given up, and they could win out. Parents are speaking out. For example, the PWC Education Reform Blog has its review of Otaibe’s proposal here. In addition, the news media has provided some coverage of concerned parents. As last week’s school board’s meeting approached, DC Examiner included these comments in an article.
“We just want a more rigorous math program,” said Alexis Miller, of the Coles District, adding that schools should “teach to the level of the children, not the lowest common denominator.”
Barlow said he thought the proposal was “reasonable,” adding, “I think [Johns] (School Board Chair Milt Johns) has given it a lot of thought.”
A vote on the proposal could take place as early as Wednesday, at the board’s next meeting.
“It shows that at least they’re listening,” Miller said. “Or at least some of them are.” (from here)
In addition News Channel 8 had this on its website.
To accommodate the different opinions, Johns is looking to give parents and teachers a choice. “I think a large majority of our teachers favor the math investigations program, but there are quite a few that I’ve spoken to like the traditional program, so I think there will be quite a few volunteers.”
Spillane (parent Laura Spillane) believes offering both curriculums will help all students excel in the classroom. “I think that to try to teach math at a one size fits all is never ever going to work. We really need to have options available because everyone learns differently and we need to attend to everyone’s needs.” (from here)
Do you have a child in Prince William County Schools? Are you concerned? Then do something. Your child’s education is YOUR responsibility. There is still time to influence the outcome. If you want to have a choice, contact your board member (see here). Cite the March 4th meeting (item 29) as the subject of your note. Be specific as to whether you want your board member to vote for or against the Opt In Option for Traditional Math. Then use your own words to briefly explain why.
Thank you for pointing your readers to the education reform blog for my assessment of Dr Otaigbe’s proposal. As I stated in the article in the blog, and with all due respect to Dr Otaigbe, I think the proposal is a bunch of hog wash. I think Dr Otaigbe is well intended, and an honorable man, but I think his proposal is short sighted and naive.
For the better part of a year we have heard that the current program provides a balanced, blended approach to mathematics, but my research has demonstrated how hollow that assertion is. If the school system and elected board have been content to misrepresent the nature of our current program, why am I supposed to believe that they aren’t misrepresenting it now and won’t continue to misrepresent it in the future?
Pay attention to lack of discussion of what specifically constitutes a blended curriculum – of what materials will form the instructional framework around which other materials will be added. I can guarantee you that Dr Walts and the staff in the math department will ensure that Investigations provides that core. As the philosophy underlying Investigations is in direct conflict with the philosophy underlying classical mathematics, especially with regards to computational fluency, that means that there will be no changes from the current program in computation. That mean the program will continue just as it is now.
Cost is a huge concern with this approach as it directs the school system to purchase sufficient materials to provide every student with both Investigations workbooks and textbooks and classical workbooks and textbooks. That means we will purchasing materials for two different programs for every student – thereby doubling our materials costs. How can we afford to do that with money as tight as it is?
We can’t, and we all know it.
We all also know how it works in schools. Parents find out which teachers do things they way they believe they ought to be done, and do everything in their power to have their children assigned to those teachers. We know how divided the community is over this math program. Image a school with four 3rd grade teachers with only one who teaches traditional. Imagine how hard a parents will fight to get their child assigned that teacher. Imagine how angry they’ll be if their child isn’t in that class. Parents won’t be screaming at the school board, they’ll be screaming at their Principal and their classroom teacher.
Dr Otaigbe’s proposal, as well intentioned as it is, is an even worse decision placed on top of a bad decision. Control of the program remains in the hands of the same people who have controlled it from the beginning – the Superintendent and the math department. It shifts the conflict from the school board to the local school and makes it a million times more personal because instead of fighting for what’s right for all the students parents will be fighting for their own child.
The proposal changes nothing. It fixes nothing. It resolves nothing. It is a cowards way out of a sticky situation.
The board should not be patting itself in the back for this proposal because the proposal is a complete cop out.