Dumbing down math

Re: your July 11 editorial, "Hard-to-solve math problem":

The Star's editorial is right on target. More time will now be spent teaching rote algorithms and tricks to pass this exam without instruction in applying algebra as a problem-solving tool. More teacher time and money now will be taken from programs and students in order to provide remediation for those who do not pass the exam. No wonder so many people say they never use algebra if its capabilities as a problem-solving tool are never taught.

A June 20 article, "State may be losing luster in tech world," comes as no surprise to many of us in the mathematics field. Since the implementation of state exams that only test minimal standards at the lowest rote and procedural level, instruction in math has been geared to that level. There is an absence of instruction in the use of technology since it is not on the California tests. Teaching with technology as a tool for problem-solving requires a higher level of teaching expertise and methods, as well as more critical and higher-level-thinking test questions that also require reading and understanding in the context of the subject matter.

SAT, ACT and other states mentioned in the article all require the use of technology on their exams. There are isolated pockets in California that still do teach with technology. However, more and more are simply teaching "tricks," shortcuts and procedures, all so the school can have high standardized testing and reporting scores.

It is a crime not to tap into the tech-savvy student to make mathematics interesting and relevant to today's world. As long as California doesn't allow technology to be used in testing and continues to promote algebra for all students, technology and applied mathematics will not be taught in the classroom.

— Carmella Ettaro, West Hills

(The writer is the math chair at Westlake High School. — Editor)

Too young for algebra

Re: your July 11 editorial, "Hard-to-solve math problem":

It was with utter amazement and great disappointment that I read about the California decision to force all eighth-grade students to pass an algebra test. It was also disturbing to learn that the governor was applauding the state Board of Education's ill-advised decision.

The most troubling part was in knowing what the research says about brain growth periodization, as revealed in the famous studies of Dr. Herman Epstein. In a 1970s presentation on his findings, he reported that the human brain has both rapid growth periods and plateau periods where no growth seems to take place.

He also argued that the plateau stages were not optimal times for the introduction of new higher-level thought processes, particularly algebra, which eighth-grade students fail more than any other subject. Historically, algebra has been most often offered in grades 10 though 12. That occurs during the age 14-17 growth-spurt stage, when it's OK to teach abstract reasoning concepts.

It is always tempting to "reform" education by demanding more homework, more testing, longer school days, preschool reading and all the rest. Much of these ploys have been championed by politicians who are certainly not experts in child growth and development or the appropriate curricular topics for different growth stages.

It's time to start resisting the pressures from uninformed sources and rely on the wisdom of the good teachers who make our state's public schools operate so effectively. Enough, already.

— Dr. Bruce Mitchell, Oxnard

(The writer is a professor of education emeritus. — Editor)

Mandate too much

Where does Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger get off deciding what our children must learn? I thought the teachers and parents were to make the judgment call. As it is, the amount of homework the middle-school pupil must prepare makes one wonder whatever happened to the teachers being able to accomplish all of the necessary material with homework assigned for upcoming tests only.

It seems to me "No Child Left Behind" isn't working, with so many students dropping out. My grandson is not Latino, black or poor, but he has no particular interest in algebra, and, therefore, as a teenager, he has closed his mind to it in rebellion. He is currently taking a course in summer school for five weeks. Does this give him a vacation? I think not.

Algebra was an elective subject for high school students when I went to school, and we never had a problem with enough scientists, engineers, etc. Enough already.

I can only guess that Schwarzenegger has too much time on his hands with not enough business to take care of that would make a headline to be read all over the U.S. so he can keep his name alive in the hopes that one day he could run for president.

This is one senior citizen who doesn't want to be around if it should ever happen that we do not have an American native to fill the office of president. If I am still around, one bet you may count on is I shall not vote. I am becoming more and more disillusioned with our politics and wonder why I should even continue to vote when, in fact, it doesn't count.

— Carolyn Reidy, Ventura