Jay Matthews: VMPI Probably Will Keep Tracking Just Because of Parent Pressure

[Anonymous]

Matthews does a much better job than Natason in reporting on this one:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-county-schools-math-classes-tracking/2021/04/29/197aa29c-a7a2-11eb-8d25-7b30e74923ea_story.html

Lane, the Virginia state superintendent, is an experienced administrator, having led three school districts. He seems to understand how politically poisonous it would be to tell parents that every child is going to be on the same math track through 10th grade.

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,” he said. “We are going into the community. We are talking about the standards. Nothing is even in draft form or is going to the board. We are just going out and getting feedback on what people think about some of these ideas.

Lane’s spokesman later told me “he does unequivocally denounce the idea that every student should be forced to take the exact same math courses at the same time without options for acceleration.””

Fox, watching the growing debate, said she is not convinced by Lane and Bolling’s insistence that no decisions have been made. “Any experienced teacher knows that without tracking, teachers will be forced to teach to the lowest common denominator and the brightest students will languish, or teachers will teach to the middle and struggling students will fall behind,” she said.

I think the growing publicity will doom most of this reform effort. School board members, both state and local, tend to back off from anything that draws angry parents to their meetings. In my experience, the best and most resilient educational changes start in classrooms and stay there. That may be one reason that they survive.

[Anonymous]

Good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good

+1

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing the article.

I think it is ultimately a good result & good that they got the feedback before the plan was finalized.

[Anonymous]

Well, they rolled this out without any discussion and poor/unclear messaging. I don't know what they thought would happen.

I think there are some good ideas in this program, but if you're going to dramatically change how math is taught statewide then you have to put the time and effort into making the case.

I think a change like this makes a lot of sense (From the article):

Algebra II is frequently combined with trigonometry in the third year of high school math. It covers linear equations, functions, exponential and logarithmic expressions and other topics. It is required for graduation in 20 states (not including Virginia) and the District of Columbia. But math education experts such as Phil Daro and Harold Asturias have suggested giving students the option of taking data science or quantitative reasoning instead.

I also like the idea of teaching math more conceptually/providing more of the theory behind it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think a change like this makes a lot of sense (From the article):

Algebra II is frequently combined with trigonometry in the third year of high school math. It covers linear equations, functions, exponential and logarithmic expressions and other topics. It is required for graduation in 20 states (not including Virginia) and the District of Columbia. But math education experts such as Phil Daro and Harold Asturias have suggested giving students the option of taking data science or quantitative reasoning instead.

I also like the idea of teaching math more conceptually/providing more of the theory behind it.

This would mean Algebra 2 is not covered by 10th grade and kids would not be able to take calculus in high school. VMPI is giving assurances that algebra 2 is part of Math 8-10, but I think it is more likely algebra 2 is being mostly dropped. They originally had precalculus as just a half year course, and have said in the videos that it really isn't needed in high school.

[Anonymous]

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think a change like this makes a lot of sense (From the article):

Algebra II is frequently combined with trigonometry in the third year of high school math. It covers linear equations, functions, exponential and logarithmic expressions and other topics. It is required for graduation in 20 states (not including Virginia) and the District of Columbia. But math education experts such as Phil Daro and Harold Asturias have suggested giving students the option of taking data science or quantitative reasoning instead.

I also like the idea of teaching math more conceptually/providing more of the theory behind it.

This would mean Algebra 2 is not covered by 10th grade and kids would not be able to take calculus in high school. VMPI is giving assurances that algebra 2 is part of Math 8-10, but I think it is more likely algebra 2 is being mostly dropped. They originally had precalculus as just a half year course, and have said in the videos that it really isn't needed in high school.

this, if they really feel like that 3 year conceptual block is important and ground breaking, push it forward a year to give kids a chance to finish their high school math sequence with calc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

Sure seemed like it, didn't it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

I believe you are referring to me and I was not trying to "shut down discussion" - just stop the insane speculation (can't take calculus!) and resulting hysterics (I'm moving out of VA!).

I pretty much said exactly what Lane said:
"assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature."
"nothing is even in draft form"

I agree with the PP who said the attempt to solicit public feedback was NOT framed/communicated appropriately and that resulted in all of the backlash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

Sure seemed like it, didn't it.

Turns out I was 100% correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

Sure seemed like it, didn't it.

Turns out I was 100% correct.

Did you read the whole article? What Matthews basically said was that the hysteria caused the walkback. No hysteria = no walkback and we would absolutely be looking at everyone sitting in the same math class K-10, with some kids going "deeper" by doing different assignments in ST Math while their peers with dyscalculia and other issues get the hands-on help they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think a change like this makes a lot of sense (From the article):

Algebra II is frequently combined with trigonometry in the third year of high school math. It covers linear equations, functions, exponential and logarithmic expressions and other topics. It is required for graduation in 20 states (not including Virginia) and the District of Columbia. But math education experts such as Phil Daro and Harold Asturias have suggested giving students the option of taking data science or quantitative reasoning instead.

I also like the idea of teaching math more conceptually/providing more of the theory behind it.

This would mean Algebra 2 is not covered by 10th grade and kids would not be able to take calculus in high school. VMPI is giving assurances that algebra 2 is part of Math 8-10, but I think it is more likely algebra 2 is being mostly dropped. They originally had precalculus as just a half year course, and have said in the videos that it really isn't needed in high school.

My kid does not need calculus and will not be heading in a STEM direction. I'd rather they have the option for something they may actually encounter in the real world and basic data analytics/quantitative reasoning is that IMO. quoted text even says it would an OPTION, not elimination of Algebra II altogether.

[Anonymous]

I don't feel reassured at all, I just feel like they are waiting for the hysteria to die down and they will present the same exact thing again with slightly different words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't feel reassured at all, I just feel like they are waiting for the hysteria to die down and they will present the same exact thing again with slightly different words.

If they try it again, I'm sure someone will alert the community and the same reaction will play out again.