The other day I ranted a bit about this new math test requirement for teachers in Massachusetts. To briefly recap: WHY, WHY, WHY would there be elementary school teachers who can't do elementary math?!?! That is insane! And depressing.
Well, now we have an update. In the NEA MorningUpdate from 5/20/09, there is a new blurb (info taken from the Boston Globe) about this topic. To summarize the summary, 75% of aspiring teachers in that state FAILED the math test. (Was that an embolism I just heard?) How is that possible? These are college educated people. I find it pretty hard to believe that the test includes any quantum mechanics word problems or the application of abstract algebra to cryptography type stuff. What I'm trying to say is this: Elementary school math is not rocket surgery, people!
How do you escape the confines of formalized education without being able to do basic math? Maybe it's because the teachers of these aspiring teachers ALSO didn't know elementary math and caused irreparable damage? Perhaps it refers back to my post from a few days ago...the one about the disparity between science/math and language education?
Once again, I maintain that language education is crucial, but we have to shed the concept that it is the only crucial subject. Because, in reality, this "progress" notion that we all hold dear will not happen without math and science. Period.
(Dismounting high horse now.)
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1 comment:
Again, I agree wholeheartedly! I am never asked to diagram a sentence when doing my show, but math is a constant ... from measurement to timing to knowing what people owe me. DUH! I love math & have tried to pass that on to my kids because it is used DAILY!
Paula of Woody Clowns Ü
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