Math Investigations debated at Prince William School Board meeting
More than 50 people spoke about Math Investigations during a School Board meeting that lasted into the early morning hours Thursday—and they came down on both sides of the issue.
Some said the controversial elementary school math curriculum, which emphasizes conceptual understanding of math over memorization and traditional algorithms, is working and should not be changed.
Others said it's not working and parents should have the option to have their children taught using traditional math.
Supporters and opponents of the math curriculum, put into elementary school classrooms throughout the county in 2006, came out to Wednesday's meeting because of an item on the board's agenda to discuss offering parents the option to place their children in a traditional math classroom.
Chairman Milton Johns said he placed the item on the agenda at the request of several board members.
Johns asked the board to discuss allowing parents to opt their children into a traditional math instruction, beginning in September.
He suggested that parents would have to notify their school's principal in writing to opt their children into traditional math and there would have to be a minimum of 25 interested children at a given school for a traditional math class to be taught there. If there weren't enough children for a traditional math class at a school, parents could be given the option to transfer their students to another school, Johns suggested.
He also asked the board to discuss having the county's two traditional schools, Porter and Pennington, teach only traditional math, and whether the school division should expand the program, currently in place in kindergarten through fourth grade, to fifth grade.
Board members were split on those suggestions, as were the parents and teachers who spoke during citizens' comment time.
The School Board meeting adjourned shortly before 1 a.m., with no conclusion reached.
A better understanding
Speaking in citizens' comment time, James Amaral, a math and science enrichment teacher at Bennett Ele-mentary School, said Math Investigations gives students a greater understanding of math concepts.
"For most students, learning the traditional algorithm just gives them a magic process similar to punching buttons on a calculator and coming up with the answer," Amaral said. "As long as they follow the steps in process and the traditional algorithm they will come up with the right answer, but it doesn't develop the understanding and why that works."
Teachers from Porter Traditional School, who held signs that said "Mary G. Porter Traditional School + Math Investigations Success" and "Trust us," said they did not want to be forced to teach only tradi-tional math at their school.
Elementary school teachers have been instructed to use a "blended approach" to math in their class-rooms, using both Math Investigations and traditional methods, school officials said. But some parents said they're not seeing that in their children's classrooms.
Hoping for choice
Most parents who spoke against the curriculum said it may work for some kids, but it's not working for theirs.
"We're hopeful the board will consider offering parents a choice," said Greg Barlow, a parent who has frequently spoken out against the program, before the meeting.
Parents opposed to Math Investigations started an online petition to have it removed from the school divi-sion's curriculum. As of Thursday, there were 1,509 signatures on the petition.
Some School Board members said they are open to the idea of offering parents a choice in the elementary math curriculum.
"Our school division is well known for providing choices," said Michael Otaigbe (Coles), citing high school specialty programs as an example. "We have always provided choice for parents."
2 options may = problem
Others were against the change, citing their faith in the Math Investigations program and the logistical problems that could arise from having two separate math curriculums at the elementary school level.
"We're just now reaching the point where we're going to see the blessings that come from what we've been doing over the past couple of years," said Grant Lattin (Occoquan).
Board member Julie Lucas (Neabsco) suggested holding a work session so board members could further discuss the opt-in option for traditional math.
Some board members said they were in favor of having a work session, but others were against it, saying they've already talked about Math Investigations too much.
Heated discussio
The discussion was heated at times, as School Board members, parents, teachers and principals spoke passionately both for and against Math Investigations.
At one point, after midnight, a heated exchange broke out between Lattin and Barlow, causing some other parents in the crowd to storm out of the room.
Board members said they were glad that parents came to the meeting to speak.
"I want the parents and the community to know that we want to hear from them," Lucas said.
Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.
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Reader Reactions
Sorry for not responding sooner, I was away for a while. That and I had to pick myself up off the floor for laughing so hard. I had completely forgot about the whole NY connection. In any case, I agree with you all completely. It appears that growing up, we had a blended approach all the time. I am guessing that all of our concerns and the concerns of others are going on deaf ears. Perhaps it is a time for additional changes on the school board and MI will bring people up to run against the “lifers”. I thought it was funny that the board is claiming success of the programs using the SOL’s, but, as we all know, the SOL’s are simply a result of teaching to test. Anyway, probably my last posting, as I think the people that should be listening to us, are not doing so in the forum, although I get the impression that they do not have their listening ears on anyway. Take care all.
Ping - Yes. Ultimate responsibility for the Investigations program, for failing to respond to concerns by parents, for failing to challenge central office staff on false assertions they’ve made about Investigations, and for bringing the Superintendent and his team to PWC rests with the school board. All but one are incumbents and almost all of them ran unopposed.
BoysMom- thanks for making aware of that. So, bringing MI to the county is just another mistake made by our School Board… like bringing down the known headache from NY?
PING - Investigations was in PWC before the Superintendent was hired. His comments in support of the program in his old school district did reassure some skeptical board members, but ultimate responsibility for selecting the program rests with our school board.
Interestingly, the Superintendent’s old school district has just dumped Investigations.
Why not investigate the root of this problem?
Start at the top and trace the issue all way back to NY. 
Well, I guess the pressure will be primarly on the educators as I will spend my time reinforcing the basics. I understand the concept, and if the system wants to go with the investigations approach, then my reinforcement will be the supplement that is not provided. I am hoping though, that all of the focus on this will bring the individuals from both schools of thought to the table in a civilized approach. I still believe our children are being educated by some of the best and brightest. We will just have to work that much harder to keep our children ready for anything that comes their way.
BrianG - if only I believed it would be so simple!
With so many PWC staff, teachers, and parents who believe the program is wonderful, I’m just not sure we’d ever be able to convince the school board to “demote” Investigations to supplemental status. Two different programs seems to be the only viable alternative.
I’m not sure what impetus is behind the Grade 5 agenda issue. I suspect it might have to do with the fact that Investigations was not recommended for use in Grade 5 by the VA DOE, but that’s just a guess.
The next meeting there is an agenda item on MI for 5th grade (see below). If this is the case for 5th grade, why not do it for K-4? Use the text prior to MI and MI as a suppliment.
Meeting Date: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 6:00 PM
Category: Board Matters
Type: Action
Subject: Investigations in Number, Data and Space Textbook Series (Johns)
Strategic Plan:
Enclosure:
File Attachment:
Summary:
Funding:
Recommendation: That the Prince William County School Board direct the Superintendent that the textbook series “Investigations in Number, Data and Space” shall not be used as the primary textbook for 5th Grade instruction, but materials in the series may be used to supplement the currently approved 5th Grade textbook.
So, since we have figured this one out, I think we all pretty much agree that we should go back to a traditional approach, and use investigations learning to supplement. Once we start to recognize the benefits, we slowly enhance the programs to broaden the approach. I was speaking with an investigations advocate, and he pointed out that the learning I had in Neew York in the 70’s actually may have done that, either that, or I adapted what I learned and have been using it for ever. Regardless, hopefully we can find a happy and beneficial approach to this.
BrianG - I agree with you that a truly blended approach is best, however, a blend with Investigations as the chosen backbone will not work. Investigations is designed as a standalone curriculum - it isn’t designed to be hacked apart or changed. The PWCS webs site contained multiple articles written by TERC and PWCS employees on why chopping up Investigations is not viable. And statements by PWCS officials and school administrators that the program we have is blended are nothing more than fluff intended to distract those who aren’t watching closely.
That means that a blended curriculum will have to come from a traditional text supplemented with Investigations or other materials.
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