Appointments to State Math Group

* I am one of the 10 people recommended for the math framework committee who were removed by Janet Nicholas and the State Board of Education (Nov. 10).

I am confused about why the board rejected the careful study and negotiations of the independent State Curriculum Commission. Nicholas claims that “there was no litmus test for this group of people .J.J. other than having expertise in the subject matter.” I can only assume that Nicholas decided that, even with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UC Davis, I did not have expertise in the subject matter of middle school mathematics. Or maybe, even with my 11 years of teaching middle school mathematics, and a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Education, she felt I did not have expertise in teaching children. Even though I have been studying and speaking on brain research about memory and learning for the past six years, maybe Nicholas felt I didn’t know enough about how children learn.

I don’t have a political agenda. I only know that I have to help my students learn mathematics well, to understand how they can use their newly acquired skills to solve problems and to believe that they too can learn math if they work hard. If the traditional lecture-and-drill methods I started with 11 years ago had worked for more than 15% of my students, I would still be using them. With lecture-and-drill instruction, half of our children drop out of math every year they have the choice.

Actually, I’m not about reform. I really just believe in good teaching, which always adapts and changes to fit the needs of students.

I hope that Nicholas’ math framework members are willing to look beyond politics and look into our classrooms. I invite and implore them to spend time with children and teachers. They have a huge challenge to look out for all of our students, those who are going on to math and science careers, and those who will take their last math class in high school.

VALERIE HENRY

lrvine Unified School District