A High School Algebra Textbook Counterpoint

Yesterday we blogged about Cliff Mass's opinion on the high school algebra and geometry textbooks the school board is considering--and nobody with an opposing view commented. You'd think it was unanimous agreement. However, we were notified about this indignant response on Twitter: "Wow, I just lost all respect for the Seattlest - GG. http://bit.ly/1R3H08 Cliff Mass is an idiot. Agh so pissed off. Why can't ppl see that all the great minds are saying NOT TO lecture at kids or drill-n-kill. WELCOME TO OUR GENERATION!! Lets go to the weatherman for how we should teach math. EXCELLENT IDEA. Include all the rich white males from Bellevue while you're at it."

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By MvB in Miscellaneous on April 28, 2009 9:15 AM

Comments [rss]

Dan_Dempsey

Twitter's comment reveals a need to check the data.

Example based instructional materials were forced out by the Bergeson administration's actions. Example based instructional materials did not align well with the math WASL.

The last decade has featured what the Twitter desires and the reults are an absolute disaster.

Twitter person please check the data.

More at

http://mathunderground.blogspot.com

To improve a system requires the intelligent application of relevant data. .... Sorry but allegiance to a failed philosphy will no longer cut it.

Dan

donproject

If you're curious about Bellevue's position, you'll be happy to know they (full disclosure: "we") are undecided. We'll be piloting two textbooks over the next year to see which one suits our students best. Including the poor, non-white students. I don't think I'm supposed to say which books we are testing.

However, in my opinion, a textbook does not dictate how the class is taught. A good teacher uses a variety of methods to reach their audience in the most effective way possible. A textbook should merely be a good reference for students and/or parents when they are away from the classroom and need support in their learning process.

Don't forget that it is the school board that decides what book is officially adopted, but it should be the teacher that decides what goes on in the classroom. If you don't like it, get involved. Even if it just means taking a break from your day job as weatherman and stating your opinion. I mean it's not like weathermen do math or anything.