Mark42
Fleet Admiral
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2003
- Messages
- 9,334
The National Council of Teachers of Mathmatics can't leave well enough alone. As if it isn't bad enough that so many US students are poor in math compared to our foreign friends (you know the kids coming here from China and India and getting the programming and engineering jobs), they NCTM wants to make it even easier for kids by removing basic math skills from the class room. They feel a calulator is all a kid needs....
They don't believe in memorization of the basic times table (calulators do it for you), basic fractions (1 cup or 1/8 cup of salt, no real difference in the meal, right?). And lets not even bring up pre-mix fuel. Its out of control. Luckly for us, there are lots of teachers upset about this, and parents are furious that their kids aren't being taught to add or subtract.
The NCTM just don't feel your kids need these skills in todays world. Besides, learing is just too hard or grade school children....
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) equates "math reform" with the ideas currently found in Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (PSSM), a 402 page revision of the NCTM Standards. The NCTM calls it "standards-based" math. Opponents call it "fuzzy" math or "new-new math." Regardless of the name, "reform math" is characterized by an endorsement of "constructivist" teaching methods and a rejection of the content and skills of traditional K-12 math.
The NCTM has redefined the goals of K-12 math education. They believe that $5 calculators now cover most of arithmetic, graphing calculators now cover most of algebra, and computers now cover most of the remainder of K-12 math. The NCTM also believe that traditional K-12 math only serves the needs of "the elite," and they know that most K-12 math teachers are poorly prepared to teach tradtional K-12 math. Putting it all together, the NCTM emphasizes math appreciation and social goals, not traditional K-12 math. They promote minimal learning expectations, with the constant use of calculators and hands-on manipulatives.
They don't believe in memorization of the basic times table (calulators do it for you), basic fractions (1 cup or 1/8 cup of salt, no real difference in the meal, right?). And lets not even bring up pre-mix fuel. Its out of control. Luckly for us, there are lots of teachers upset about this, and parents are furious that their kids aren't being taught to add or subtract.
The NCTM just don't feel your kids need these skills in todays world. Besides, learing is just too hard or grade school children....