Geoffrey Akst
----------------
New York Times, July 20, 1997
Lynne Cheney, former chairwoman of the National Endowment for the
Humanities:
"One reason that people outside the Beltway should care about what's
going on
there is that Washington can render state efforts moot. Consider "whole
math"
instruction, which has been making its way into schools for several
years. The
idea is that mathematics is a natural activity that students will
invent
procedures for if only they are given mathematically rich problems to
solve.
Parents concerned that this idea will prove destructive are working
to be
sure that states require instruction in basic skills. They've made
headway, but
the Administration could reverse it. The national math test for eighth
graders
being planned for 1999 could easily overwhelm state efforts, and it is
being
shaped entirely by advocates of the "whole math" approach."
--------------
New York Times, July 26, 1997,
Ramon C. Cortines, Acting Assistant Secretary of Education for
Educational Research
and Improvement:
"Lynne Cheney distorts the idea of a voluntary national test in
mathematics
for eighth graders (Op-Ed, July 20). The test proposed by President
Clinton does
not promote any teaching method, including the fictional "whole math"
Ms.
Cheney fears. Nor will it overwhelm state efforts to sharpen basic
skills. The
optional test will offer states, schools and parents a way to determine
whether
children are mastering mathematics and are prepared for the
higher-level courses
that lead to college and good jobs.
The test will be based on the National Assessment of Education
Progress
tests already used by more than 40 states. Only 24 percent of eighth
graders
were at "proficient" level on these challenging tests. Students who
are
challenged to learn, learn more."
Geoffrey Akst
Mathematics Department
Manhattan Community College
199 Chambers Street
NY, NY 10007
(v) 212/346-8530, -8531, -8532
(f) 212/346-8550
(e) akst@idt.net
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