The Tragedy of the Math Mess and ANOTHER WAY
When one criticizes the modern mathematics program one often finds that the listener, wishing to be sympathetic and not knowing where to stand, remarks that undoubtedly the truth lies between the traditional and the modern mathematics versions. Such compromise may be correct in some controversies, but it is not applicable here. If someone argues that the earth turns from east to west and another that the earth turns from west to east, one cannot compromise, however well-meaning one may be, by saying that the truth lies between these alternatives." Morris Kline, Why Johnny Can't Add, p. 123.
Examples of Indoctrination rather than Truth in Mathematics Education
- "Does away with absolutes and promotes relativism"
- "Is man-centered (humanistic) -- seeks to create truth or denies that mathematics is true."
- Leads students to worship the human mind because of all the imaginary worlds it can construct.
- Emphasizes abstractions, which it calls "concepts." Does not give the child anything solid to learn and use."
"... create their own mathematical knowledge."
Chao, Murray and Guitierrez
Distribute the Wealth (A Leftist Agenda-- preparing children for Socialism)
Social Self-Organization?
Sex Education Integrated into Math
"Along the four dimensions of learning, reflect on your experience as a math learner."
"What kinds of privilege and power did you have or not have as a math student?"
Reading and Writing the World with Mathematics: Toward a Pedagogy of Social Justice
NOT MATH EDUCATION OR COMPUTATIONAL PROFICIENCY
Besides giving students a firm foundation for believing in absolutes, traditional mathematics gives them necessary tools for daily living (shopping, cooking, making and buying clothing, building homes, stewardship, etc. and the tools for subduing the physical universe for man's benefit (scientific technology).
Leads students to worship God as the Master Designer and Orderer of the universe.
Teaches from concrete to abstract--line upon line, precept upon precept. Recognizes he nature of the child as created by God and fallen. Uses a great deal of drill and rote memory, because this is how God created little children to learn. Children's learning must go from the known to the unknown.
- Firm foundation in Absolutes
- Concrete to Abstract
- Line upon Line
- Precept upon Precept
- Drill and rote memory
EXACT OPPOSITE OF COMMON CORE/WHOLE LANGUAGE/PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION WITH THEMATIC EDUCATION/INTEGRATED CURRICULUM/MULTICULTURALISM
Modern Math on the other hand....
- Does away with absolutes and promotes relativism
- Denies that mathematics is true
- Purports to have applications in linear programming, operations research, game theory, quality control etc.
- Emphasizes abstractions (called concepts)
- Does not give the child anything solid to learn and use
Now, let me give you the curriculum my children had in the ABEKA school in Dothan, Alabama. As a teacher and parent, I liked being able to look at the curriculum book that guided the teachers. It was comforting to know that they would get the drill and reinforcement in areas that I knew were important for future success. But here, let me just show you:
Poetry. Isn't that beautiful?
History OUR AMERICA
Science Enjoying God's World
Look at what grade level these children scored. This was in the 80s. I wonder how much higher ABEKA schools score now after the lunacy of the COMMON CORE MATH.
What? They teach cursive? Why those children will be able to read their grandparents' notes as well as the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution!
Now what about Math? And with no calculators or computers?
I have seen them compute long series in their heads. I had three children in this school. All scored extremely high on all standardized tests (Stanford Achievement Test (at least 90th percentile and often much, much higher) at that time. We should return to those tests and compare the scores.
First they memorize these tables.
Ever think about what "the full harvest of apostasy" means?
A Christian teacher who fails to see the potential for harm in this list, particularly when reading recommendations one, two, three, five and six, is lacking experience or discernment.
- that problem solving be the focus of school mathematics
- that basic skills in mathematics be defined to encompass more than computational facility
- that mathematics programs take full advantage of the power of calculators and computers at all grade levels (Funny, those Silicon Valley gurus don't send their children to schools that use computers and calculators!)
- that success of mathematics programs and student learning be evaluated by a wider range of measures than conventional testing
- that more mathematics study be required for all students and a flexible curriculum with greater range of options be designed to accommodate the diverse needs of student population
This is where we are. Those emphasizing Academics were overrun by those who wanted Social Justice programs. Those like Paolo Freire, a hero of the Whole Language/Progressive Educational Movement now institutionalized in COMMON CORE.
(See also on this blog:
TRADITIONAL OR PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION. DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? HAS POLITICS AFFECTED YOUR CHILD'S MATH EDUCATION? https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/look-at-this-headline-and-now-according.html
TEACHERS AS LIBERATORS PRODUCE STUDENTS AS REVOLUTIONARIES: Whole Language Live On!
https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/02/teachers-as-liberators-produce-students.html
REVOLUTIONARY PEDAGOGY
REVOLUTIONARY PEDAGOGY
She could build computers AND with her degree in electrical engineering do other things.
Can children do that with today's Math?
Parents have rights Against Intrusive Surveys PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT and SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
If I Ruled the Schools
Common Core, Sylvia Plath, and Death Education
https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/common-core-sylvia-plath-and-death.html
The Truth about Phonics that will Help You Help Your Child! Whole Language: A Fraud Perpetrated upon Our Students. One of Many?
The Tragedy of the Math Mess and Another Way
MATH WARS. ONCE AGAIN INTO THE FRAY
COMMON CORE MATH
The Reality of Bay District Schools. Only Fifty Percent Read Proficiently. Is there hope?
The Four Period Day: Students as Guinea Pigs and Professional advancement for "innovators"
The Tale of Last Hope for Local Control
DEMONIC ROOTS TO COMMON CORE? VISIT YOUR CHILD'S THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOM.
THE GENEALOGY OF COMMON CORE: BILL GATES/UNESCO/ROBERT MULLER//ALICE BAILEY/LUCIS TRUST
THE CHICAGO CONNECTION TO COMMON CORE
does anybody really believe anymore? does anybody really care?https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/does-anybody-really-believe-anymore.html
Sounding the Alarm! Today's Therapeutic Classroom. What are you going to do about it?
Spalding Writing Road to Reading and John Winston of Parks Elementary Natchitoches, Louisiana
https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/spalding-writing-road-to-reading-and.html
RETARDING AMERICA THE IMPRISONMENT OF POTENTIAL
NOTE FROM ROBERT SWEET OF THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO READ FOUNDATION
The DARE PROGRAM 20 years later.
https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-dare-program-20-years-later-more.html
Merry Christmas! Meet Alliwishus, The Elf Mother Met at the Battle of the Bulge
My Mother. My hero who won a Battle Ribbon at the Battle of the Bulge. December 16, 1944. A SCRAPBOOK LOOK FROM JEAN BRONSON GILLIS BURSON.
LEONARD COHEN HALLELUJAH PROJECT AT BAY HIGH SCHOOL AND ESTABLISHMENT RELIGION, SECULAR HUMANISM, IN OUR SCHOOLS
https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/leonard-cohen-hallelujah-project-at-bay.html
WHY SHOULD CONSERVATIVES, CHRISTIANS AND THE THE FAITH COMMUNITY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS? SUBSCRIBE TO THE PANAMA CITY NEWS HERALD AND GET WASHINGTON POST FREE
PEACE EDUCATION? CONFLICT RESOLUTION? TEACHING TOLERANCE? COMMON CORE
TRADITIONAL OR PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION. DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? HAS POLITICS AFFECTED YOUR CHILD'S MATH EDUCATION?
RETARDING AMERICA THE IMPRISONMENT OF POTENTIAL
NOTE FROM ROBERT SWEET OF THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO READ FOUNDATION
DELPHI TECHNIQUE, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT CONVINCED A GULLIBLE PUBLIC TO BUY INTO COMMON CORE
COMMON CORE: PORNOGRAPHY 101
MIDDLE SCHOOL AGENDA FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS A PART OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
BEHAVIOR MODELS ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS
CULTURE WAR AND COMMON CORE
SOCIAL STUDIES AND COMMON CORE
TEACHERS AS LIBERATORS PRODUCE STUDENTS AS REVOLUTIONARIES: Whole Language Live On!
RADICAL POSSIBILITIES: YOUR CHILDREN
https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/radical-possibilities-your-children.html
Response to AL.Com article "Alabama Superintendent Proposal to Raise Academic Standards."
SECULAR HUMANISM IS NOW THE RELIGION OF OUR SCHOOLS
COMMON CORE: THE EMPEROR IS WEARING NO CLOTHES
COMMON CORE=PETRI DISH FOR RADICALS
https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/common-core-petri-dish-for-radicals.html
REVOLUTIONARY PEDAGOGY
Revolutionary Pedagogy: Or, so you thought reading, writing and calculating were why you sent your child to school?
EDUCATION TODAY:
Politics, Profits, Position, Power, and Prejudice published 1995
CAPSTONE EDUCATION (UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA) AND MY CONCERNS
CONFLICT RESOLUTION OR POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION?
DELPHI TECHNIQUE, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT CONVINCED THE GULLIBLE NATION TO BUY INTO COMMON CORE
WHO DO WE HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAILURE OF OUR SCHOOLS?
PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD EMPOWER PARENTS
CONSPIRACY THEORIES IN EDUCATION
THE CIVIL WAR IN EDUCATION
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TAKE A KNEE
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