Battleground Schools: Mathematics Education Response

This article mentions about the two polarized characteristics of mathematics – “progressive” and “conservative” or “traditionalist” views.  The battles around mathematics education are based on three periods and movements:

   1. The Progressivist movement – Dewey’s teaching techniques involved “programming the environment” to spark experimentation, inquiry and interpretation for learning students.
 
   2. The New Math reform – took the democratic view that every student was a potential future rocket scientist
 
   3. Math Wars, based on NCTM standards reforms – TIMSS supported the idea that a deeper conceptual understanding of mathematics was key to success in international rankings, but there is argument coming from both the traditionalist and progressivist side on which is more beneficial for studentss

Also, The article mentions the following complication factors for mathematical education:

   1. negative public views of methematics
   2. teachers who found success in a conservative system
   3. teachers who are math-phobic
   4. unqualified math teachers

Due to the combination of math phobia and with a lack of understanding of mathematical concepts, majority of elementary school teachers in North America teach their students the memorizing procedure and algorithms without being capable of making sense of why they worked.

The problem at the secondary school level, there is a shortage of specialist math teachers, thus lower secondary grades may be taught by non-mathematics specialist teachers.

My response:

This article was an interesting summary of the current history of the development of how and why mathematics is taught the way it is.  The idea of the progressivists and the traditionalists brings us back to the issue of "Which is better, instrumental or relational mathematics?".  I found it interesting that the main purpose of the "New Math" was to view and try to create more students to be potential future rocket scientists.  Of course, in reality, this is not possible, but the change in teaching mathematics can benefit the mathematical education the students receive in order to expand their understanding.  Although this  article was referring to California, it is also applicable to many other places around the world as well.