The New Math - be afraid. Be very afraid.
In the time-honored educational tradition of "fixing" something that ain't broke, Bethlehem (PA) students are being required to "throw out the textbooks" and learn math in a new group-oriented (and presumably touchy-feely) method that has parents worried. Students work in groups (with any pressure for individual acheivement thus removed) to solve word problems that show practical applications of math, although how they can demonstrate any practical knowledge of math without memorizing the basic theorems and equations, I don't know. Mathematical principles don't apply themselves simply because a group of students who don't have the basic knowledge all work together. The proponents of the New Math trumpet the fact that the students require days to solve the problems, but is that because of the intellectual challenge of the problems, or because the children are groping around in the dark, without the necessary tools to come to a swift solution?
The article notes that:
The parents with the loudest [critical] voices usually are upper-middle class professionals — doctors, lawyers and teachers — who complain that they cannot help their children with their math homework. They are unnerved that children who used to get A's in math are now struggling to earn C's. They worry that their children will not learn the basics, do poorly on the SAT and be unprepared for college math courses.
Altogether now - who's surprised to see that a local educational community, which is most likely very sensitive to any charges of sexism, racism or unfairness, is completely ignoring concerns from those problematic "upper-middle class" parents? You know, the parents with traditionally higher-achieving students who don't need group support to demonstrate their understanding of the quadratic equation? Amazing, isn't it, to see the unresponsiveness of the schools to the concerns of these parents?
Luckily, other parents in similar situations have banded together to make their concerns heard:
A grassroots rebellion began building a couple of years ago in Texas, California, Virginia and Michigan school districts that piloted some of the new programs. Parents in Texas sued, and the battle in California pitted legislators against school districts. Parents say they have college mathematicians on their side.
Three years ago, almost 200 professors and scholars denounced an endorsement of reformed math programs by the U.S. Department of Education. The department had bestowed an ''exemplary'' rating upon Connected Math and Core-Plus, as well as other programs.
Their main objections: The new math programs relied too heavily on calculators and building blocks and neglected important skills such as dividing fractions and multiplying multidigit numbers. Without the basics, the critics said, students had little hope of mastering algebra, physics and other advanced concepts.
The article doesn't specifically refer to the rebellious chaps at Mathematically Correct, but if you're a concerned parent or teacher and you haven't read their website, go check it out immediately.