Math ‘reform’ a failure

On May 27 at 7 p.m., Spokane school administrators are scheduled to address the school board about proposed teaching materials for mathematics.

I’m asking parents and teachers to go to the meeting and demand that the district replace its failed math curricula.

Spokane’s current math curricula are “reform,” which means they focus on estimation, writing, calculators and multiple ways to solve problems. They downplay the need to practice the most efficient algorithms (necessary for advancing in math and needed in college, business and the trades). They emphasize constructivism (“discovery”) where students work in groups to try to teach math to each other.

In 2008, just 45.9 percent of Spokane 10th-graders passed the math WASL. Many high school graduates must take several remedial college math classes, even arithmetic. For 20 years, parents, math teachers, professors, business owners, STEM professionals (science, technology, engineering and math) and math advocates have fought against reform math. In 2008, the National Mathematics Advisory Panel called for more traditional content and increased rigor across the nation.

Come to the board meeting. Bring your students and high school graduates. They have the right to be heard. I’ll bet they have much to say about their K-12 math experience.

Laurie Rogers

Spokane