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 = problems

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 discussion

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.