Numbers Don’t Add Up in Review of Math Show

Lynne Heffley’s frivolous review of the new educational classroom series “Futures With Jaime Escalante” is a tremendous disservice to the education of Los Angeles school children and their families.

Not only did she miss the boat, but her dismissal runs at odds with the fact that the series is already receiving plaudits from teachers and students alike in 34 states. On Feb. 23, 5,400 Houston junior and senior high school students watched a number of segments during a career conference at the Houston Convention Center. They stood and cheered their approval.

More than 2,200 teachers nationally have responded positively to the series, some saying it is the best audiovisual aid they have ever had for their mathematics curriculum.

The series has been enthusiastically endorsed by the National Education Assn., the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Science Teachers Assn., the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program, the American Assn. for Advancements in Science, the National Parent Teachers Assn., the National Society of Professional Engineers and many other major engineering societies in America.

The same Architecture and Structural Engineering segment which Heffley panned has already won a CINE “Golden Eagle” Award, a silver CINDY Award from the Assn. of Visual Communicators and a special award from the California Society of Professional Engineers for “innovation in media.” The entire series recently won the prestigious Crystal Award (co-winner) from the Assn. for Educational Communications and Technology.

The series was created for in-classroom viewing, developed with the active counsel of teachers, administrators and students around the country. The fact that PBS affiliates, like KCET Channel 28, are broadcasting the series into homes is an added plus, to be praised.

The series format (which Heffley questioned) was developed with two things in mind. Teachers requested keeping the length at 15 minutes, optimum to build into their curriculum. Secondly, the “breakneck MTV pace” (which Heffley found “self-defeating”) plays to kids’ idiomatic language and visual acuity.

Based on Escalante’s methodology, our goal was to show students that math is fun, and that it applies to the things they are already interested in: sports, music, movies, fashion, etc. We simply wanted to stimulate students’ imaginations. Based on the thousands of letters we’ve received from students and teachers, I would say we’ve done a good job.

Heffley’s attempt to address our basic intent reveals a very patronizing attitude. With the appalling state of American education there are no, using her term, “casual viewers,” just as there were no casual passengers on the Titanic.