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Reader comment on:
Texas Challenges City on Math Curriculum
in response to reader comment: Only in Manhattan?

Submitted by JG, Dec 19, 2007 03:32

My daughter is in the 2nd grade in Houston ISD. Early this year we noticed an incomprehensible series of worksheets coming home posing as math education. My daughter was confused, and so were we -- some of the problems simply didn't make any rational sense, to the effect of "OK, I get the question, but WHY would you ever ask it that way?"

Complicating the problem was her first grade experience. We did 1st grade in Bangalore, India. Trust me when I tell you that they KNOW how to teach math there, partly explaining why they send engineering students to MIT here who then get A's and complain that undergrad school in India was harder. At any rate, my daughter would set up a problem the way she was taught, then was marked wrong not because she failed to get the answer, but because the problem was set up diffrerently then the curriculum demands.

I'll also add here that in general, she did in 1st grade there a full 1st and 2nd grade curriculum. She's a whole year ahead upon return to the US.

So, we're pulling her this week and putting her into a private school teaching a mature curriculum. Let the public schools experiment on somebody else's kids.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
I am a member of our local school board and after adoption Everyday Math our scores plummeted from many years... [MORE]	Ira Schoppa	Jan 21, 2008 15:06
As a parent of a freshman in high school now I have to respond to this article. If you want... [MORE]	CF	Jan 9, 2008 06:55
Dallas ISD stands alone in their success in improving math test scores when compared to other large school districts in... [MORE]	Jesse Arnett	Dec 5, 2007 12:41
The real truth behind DISD is that it's one of the worst districts in the state, and a set of... [MORE]	JG	Dec 19, 2007 03:24
JG'a response is typical when a disgruntled parent is faced with the facts of success. They always resort to name-calling... [MORE]	Jesse Arnett	Jan 14, 2008 19:10
To previous poster Jesse Arnett In regard to your association with Everyday Math It appears that one Melissa Arnett is a TX... [MORE]	Elizabeth Carson	Jan 24, 2008 13:11
Everyday Mathematics is published by McGraw Hill, the same idiots profiteering from NCLB. These big Bush supporters are making millions... [MORE]	Richard Skibins	Nov 30, 2007 22:09
Everyday Math is a terrible math program for elementary students! If you school wants to adopt it, speak up! We've been... [MORE]	Mary F.	Nov 30, 2007 11:38
The secret but poowerful Fabian socialist movement in academia has just one purpose,and that is to convert us to socialism.... [MORE]	Alex Stuart	Nov 30, 2007 10:52
It has been in use for 7 years in the Wauwatosa School District. It was adopted without a track record.... [MORE]	I Potkonjak	Nov 28, 2007 17:13
California has recently conducted a mathematics textbook adoption review. In order to be approved, a mathematics program must be judged... [MORE]	M. Jekabson	Nov 25, 2007 23:44
District 2 uses TERC, which isn't that much better. [MORE]	Ari	Nov 21, 2007 01:30
I am a huge advocate of the EDM Program. Having taught elementary math for 10 years prior to the purchase... [MORE]	Linda Black	May 8, 2008 11:21
"Not all New York City elementary schools follow the curriculum; some — including many schools in District 2 — have... [MORE]	Mel	Nov 20, 2007 10:06
My daughter is in the 2nd grade in Houston ISD. Early this year we noticed an incomprehensible series of worksheets...	JG	Dec 19, 2007 03:32
Whie you are checking out "private" schools in Houston, take a look at River Oaks Baptist School. I was on... [MORE]	Jesse Arnett	Jan 14, 2008 18:58
As far as disgrunted parents versus instructors and PhD's who "developed" the program, might I add that you may want... [MORE]	Susan	Mar 21, 2008 17:17

Reader comment on:Texas Challenges City on Math Curriculumin response to reader comment: Only in Manhattan?

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Reader comment on:
Texas Challenges City on Math Curriculum
in response to reader comment: Only in Manhattan?