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Every generation of parents goes through the same trauma with a “new” method of teaching algebra. This time around, it’s being forced down children’s throats and the teachers aren’t allowed to go off the script. That means they can’t explain things to those who don’t get it. Gifted kids love it. The others get frustrated and turn to careers like selling drugs on the street corner or civil engineering. That’s why modern bridges are self-cleaning and equipped with wifi but not support cables. Like that one in Florida that pancaked on top of eight cars stopped at a red light. It was built by an engineering school with oversight from allegedly real engineers.
New math method
The dilemma over the method of teaching math isn’t new. In 1965 Professor Tom Lehrer pointed out – with a song – that “in the new approach, the important thing is to understand what you’re doing rather than to get the right answer.” The chorus still strikes a chord with parents today.
“Hooray for new math. New-hoo-hoo math. It won’t do you a bit of good to review math. It’s so simple. So very simple. That only a child can do it!” The problem with Illustrative Mathematics is that children can’t do it either.
In New York City, Algebra teachers “are dreading the next school year.” Whether they like it or not, and most of them don’t, they “will have to use a commercial math curriculum being blasted as ‘a complete disaster.‘”
Illustrative Math: The new curriculum that nearly every Algebra teacher in NYC has to start using this fall and why it is destined to flop | Gary Rubinstein's Blog https://t.co/IyvDJITh14 pic.twitter.com/mQTxu6j1bV
— Coopmike48 (we/us) (@coopmike48) August 10, 2024
Chancellor David Banks is “betting on” the method to improve the city’s lagging math scores. Odds say he crapped out. Reports already indicate scores worse than last year.
Under the new and improved method, “teachers must stick to scripted lessons on a rigid schedule.” They actually get reprimanded for uttering a single word off the script. “Students work in groups to tackle problems.”
They’re supposed to “discover” the answers all on their own “with little instruction.” Most parents look at the sample problems and say “I don’t get it.” So do most of the kids. That doesn’t phase liberal indoctrination experts.
Some students like it
Some students actually like the new method. The ones with a functioning brain and basic reasoning skills. “Gifted students can handle it, but those below grade level without the prerequisite skills become frustrated,” teachers relate.
In New York City, “Chancellor David Banks has mandated that all but six of NYC’s 420 high schools adopt the Illustrative Math curriculum.”
There’s a Facebook group for teachers and the method recently came up in a chat thread which has since gone viral. One teacher announced she was going to be experiencing it for the first time soon and wanted to know what the others thought of it.
All NYC schools will use an algebra curriculum that focuses on students figuring out math concepts, rather than teachers teaching how to solve problems. Will it close achievement gaps? https://t.co/pPsePdDWE8#math #algebra #teaching #NYCschools #education @HKorbey @rastokke
— Joanne Jacobs (@JoanneLeeJacobs) June 25, 2024
“It’s the worst,” one colleague replied. “It’s been a complete disaster,” another agreed.
“No one was happy with it. The kids didn’t know wtf was happening when we used the lessons. Not to mention you get reprimanded by the superintendent’s office if you go ‘off script‘ and don’t use verbatim the words in the curriculum.” Another problem with the method is that it doesn’t cover all the things that the standard tests measure. That means filling in the gaps a-la-carte.
“The city Department of Education refuses to say how students at the 265 schools scored on the Algebra 1 Regents exam given on June 4.” They have the results, just aren’t admitting it. “Students from more than 25 schools in three Bronx districts, including some that used Illustrative Math, scored an average failing 56.5 on the exam. That fell below last year’s Bronx borough average of 61.“
