Poster#6 - Will Reform Mathematics Survive in New England?

Message:
Good question. I actually think the original state test was in line with the inquiry method. The only problem was that there were topics a few topics on the test that we did not reach until the 11th grade. However, our state just redid their frameworks and test. The new frameworks increase the emphasis on rote learning and "the way" to solve a problem and I don't know how that effected this year's test, as it is being given this week.
The high pessured test effects all curriculums in that teachers are panicking and taking a lot of time out to teach to the test- do practice problems - and then the test itself is a week long. So the test is really taking a lot of time away from teachers teaching whatever curriculum they follow.
As for funding, many chairs are requesting funding for continued professional development. Some are getting it and some not. It is particulary hard in some of the small schools we are in. This summer we have some funds left over from other sources so we are charging schools who were in our grant $50 per teacher and other $450 per teacher (and $300 for more than 2 teahcers). We do have paying schools. So some schools do see this as important.

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Thanks - Dean Fink