Math Ed, must read: Math Panel, Lockhart, Schmidt
1. The National Mathematics Advisory Panel issued its final report last week. Dave Marain (Math Notations) was concerned about the lack of active teachers involved – I shared the concern. Now it’s time to read and find out what they recommended.
2. Lockhart’s Lament got a plug in Devlin’s Angle, and has been making the rounds this month. I think the analogy (math is art, music is art, extend for 25 pages) becomes weak very quickly. There is something to how badly much of our math is taught. However, many of his complaints do not extend to classes where teachers reason. His critique is of the classes that are taught “out of the book” and by not so smart people. Still, limited as it is, there is some merit, and it deserves real attention. I may return to it.
3. The new issue of the AFT‘s magazine, American Educator, is devoted to standards. Hirsch wrote a, well, Hirsch-piece. More interestingly (and a bit strange), the general piece on state standards finds math standards generally better than standards in other subject areas. (???)
But of most interest is William Schmidt’s “What’s Missing from Math Standards?”
Schmidt’s answer – rigor, coherence, focus – makes sense. His plea for fewer topics at greater depth makes sense. And his suggestion that we consider collaboration among states (already begun) or even look at national or federal standards deserves some attention, and perhaps consideration.
JD2718 
I don’t think it’s any surprise that math standards, whatever their flaws, are stronger than many other subjects. Math doesn’t lend itself to vagueness.
By contrast, this a CA social studies standard:
Students explain governmental institutions and practices in the United States and other countries.
–Explain how the United States and other countries make laws, carry out laws, determine whether laws have been violated, and punish wrongdoers.
–Describe the ways in which groups and nations interact with one another to try to resolve problems in such areas as trade, cultural contacts, treaties, diplomacy, and military force.
I found it looking at the standards for a particular grade level, but it seem like it could apply to a broad range of grades. But its a 2nd grade standard, and it seems of very little use to either a 2nd grade teacher in developing a lesson plan, or a parent of a 2nd grader in judging whether their child school was doing a good job meeting the state standards.
Rachel, that makes sense. But I look at our math standards, and on their own they seem vague. I see how much worse this one is, but it doesn’t make bad ones good…
I hate this stuff.