kitchen table math, the sequel: America Competes Act

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

America Competes Act

I've been invited to participate in a conference call with Lamar Alexander about the America Competes Act, and I know next to nothing about it (though the list of sponsors doesn't inspire confidence). I'm doing some research on it, but is there anything anyone thinks I should inquire about?


update (from Catherine)

I'm dropping the link for all of Dan Willingham's articles into rightwingprof's post.

My frustration with businessmen's interventions into public education is that they invariably end up supporting all of the most ancient progressive-ed memes. (The "New Basic Skills" anyone?)

Or Joel Klein and Mayor Bloomberg mandating Everyday Math and time-on-carpet?

I've found that the best ammunition against this is cognitive science, especially Willingham's article on inflexible knowledge.

hmm....

I'm thinking something by Hirsch would be good, too.

Probably one or both of these:

Reading Comprehension Requires Knowledge--of Words and the World

You Can Always 'Look It Up,' or Can You?


update from Barry

Barry's advice is much better than mine:

Great that you've been invited to participate. The bill is very large and comprehensive, and has a lot of things to enhance innovation in industry, increase R&D, etc. But aside from that there is an education component to it. It puts into action what President Bush stated in last year's State of the Union address, which was to increase the number of students in AP course. The bill calls for an increase of 70,000 students, blah blah blah. I'm being cynical just a tad, because putting money into HS teacher training so they are better equipped to teach AP courses is like giving a car without an engine a new coat of paint. Let's look at the K-8 a bit more closely; if the students don't have a proper foundation, then "enhancing" AP isn't going to do much.

But there is a provision in Title II of the bill called "Math Now" which states:

"The purpose of this section is to enable all students to reach or exceed grade-level academic achievement standards and to prepare the students to enroll in and pass algebra courses by—

(1) improving instruction in mathematics for students in kindergarten through grade 9 through the implementation of mathematics programs and
the support of comprehensive mathematics initiatives that are based on the best available evidence of effectiveness (emphasis added);

and

(2) providing targeted help to low-income students who are struggling with mathematics and whose achievement is significantly below grade level.

"Best available evidence" is a lot better than "best available research" but not by much. Push for definition of "best available evidence" that shows effectiveness of programs based on independent testing using nationally normed tests. Maybe add some language such as "including but not limited to results from schools that have used and are using math programs from Singapore in grades K-6".

If you want to talk about this, ask Catherine for my phone number and give me a call. I'm right in DC. Glad to help out any way I can.

14 comments:

Catherine Johnson said...

wow!

cool!

unfortunately I have no idea what the America Competes Act is all about...

Catherine Johnson said...

Looking at the bill, the main question that occurs to me is: direct instruction and teaching to mastery or constructivism?

Bill Gates has been pretty constructivist in orientation thus far.

His first initiative, small schools, was built on the premise that good relationships mean good schools. (I gather there is a solid body of research supporting small schools, but in interviews Gates or his wife have actually made statements like "We thought if we just got the relationships in place everything else would follow"...)

High Tech High has no books at all. None.

And one of Gates' recommendations is "more technology in the classroom."

More technology in the classroom means fewer books, and I know that from direct experience.

We have a huge focus on "technology" here in Irvington, and the library has very few books. The PTSA is doing fundraising, trying to get the money to buy them.

Last year students were sharing textbooks; I'm positive that's still going on now (at least one English class was told there weren't enough copies of a novel to go around, so they wouldn't be reading it....)

Plus every single time a business type decides to tell us what the work world needs it turns out that the 21st century requires "higher order thinking" and "ability to problem-solve in teams" which translates directly to: the middle school model.

Before you talk to Alexander, if you have time, I would read Willingham's "Inflexible Knowledge" article and COMMIT IT TO MEMORY.

(I'm going to drop the links into your post.)

Catherine Johnson said...

ewwww

When it comes to innovation, America’s entrepreneurs have led the way. But in today’s global economy, Nevada is competing not only against Utah and California but also against China and India. To keep our competitive edge, we need to embrace technology and ensure that our children receive a stronger education in the core subjects of mathematics and science. This legislation is a great step forward in securing our place as a global leader because it invests in future innovations as well as future innovators.

science & math education: good

embrace technology: bad

repeat after me

Catherine Johnson said...

The take-away from Hirsch is that a high-quality liberal arts education creates flexible lifelong learners.

Period.

English literature
history
math
science

foreign languages & philosophy, too?

Barry Garelick said...

Great that you've been invited to participate. The bill is very large and comprehensive, and has a lot of things to enhance innovation in industry, increase R&D, etc. But aside from that there is an education component to it. It puts into action what President Bush stated in last year's State of the Union address, which was to increase the number of students in AP course. The bill calls for an increase of 70,000 students, blah blah blah. I'm being cynical just a tad, because putting money into HS teacher training so they are better equipped to teach AP courses is like giving a car without an engine a new coat of paint. Let's look at the K-8 a bit more closely; if the students don't have a proper foundation, then "enhancing" AP isn't going to do much.

But there is a provision in Title II of the bill called "Math Now" which states:

"The purpose of this section is to enable all students to reach or exceed grade-level academic
achievement standards and to prepare the students to enroll in and pass algebra courses by—
(1) improving instruction in mathematics for students in kindergarten through grade 9 through the implementation of mathematics programs and
the support of comprehensive mathematics initiatives
that are based on the best available evidence of effectiveness (emphasis added); and
(2) providing targeted help to low-income students who are struggling with mathematics and whose achievement is significantly below grade level.

"Best available evidence" is a lot better than "best available research" but not by much. Push for definition of "best available evidence" that shows effectiveness of programs based on independent testing using nationally normed tests. Maybe add some language such as "including but not limited to results from schools that have used and are using math programs from Singapore in grades K-6".

If you want to talk about this, ask Catherine for my phone number and give me a call. I'm right in DC. Glad to help out any way I can.

Catherine Johnson said...

rightwingprof ---

TALK TO BARRY!

HE KNOWS!

KDeRosa said...

I was invited to this conference call as well and they asked for recommendations to include other bloggers. I think anyone who writes for KTM qwualifies as a blogger so if you want me to pass your name on, let me know.

KDeRosa said...

btw that "qwualifies" was merely an amusing typo.

Barry Garelick said...

You may pass my name on.

Capt. Kirk

Unknown said...

Yeah, got it, thanks. Sorry. Today has NOT been a good day so far, beginning with the idiot "advisor" I got on the phone after waiting 20 minutes on hold at TIAA-CREF, who had to ask his supervisor if you had to pay taxes on a Roth IRA (he could have asked me, but no, that would have been too easy). It's gone downhill from there.

Catherine Johnson said...

who had to ask his supervisor if you had to pay taxes on a Roth IRA (he could have asked me, but no, that would have been too easy). It's gone downhill from there.

that doesn't sound good

Catherine Johnson said...

ok, I nominate Steve H, Doug, Rudbeckia, Myrtle -- we need all our math brains on that call!

Instructivist said...

I've also been invited to participate. Instead of participating, I sent a letter briefly outlining my recommendations. Elaboration to come.

Unknown said...

Alexander's office sent a copy of the bill. I'm slugging through it (you can imagine how fun that is).