Reply to WaPo story on math finals

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]Oh, where to begin, "conceptual understanding," "real world application," "making sense of the math," and yes, using English to explain math. I am all explaining your answer when there is something to explain. Not 4+2=6.[/quote]

This. I've been surprised at how heavily MCPS pushes language arts over math. The larger issue is that K-12 education doesn't attract individuals that are very good at math. You get people who if they weren't education majors would have been communication or english majors. There is a fundamental lack of science and math understanding throughout education. Its not just the teachers but the people writing the curriculum. The other reality is that K-12 just doesn't attract the most intelligent people. You have mediocre people propagating mediocre instruction. [/quote]

+100.  Our experience has been that the math teachers are very weak in their understanding.  We have had many experiences where our children were taught certain concepts incorrectly (not just incorrect methods but concepts that were mathematically incorrect).  Changing the standards and re-doing the curriculum doesn't help that problem.  I see the same problems in C2.0 that were present in the prior curriculum.  The problem is the teaching.  But, confronting that problem requires better candidate recruitment and more demanded from teachers.  It also requires confronting the union, which is unlikely.  (And I say that although I am generally pro-union.)  
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