NYC HOLD Letters and Testimony Page

Page Editor: Elizabeth Carson with Bas Braams.

NYC - Letters to the Editor and the Media

NYS - Letters to the Editor and the Media

NYS - Written Testimony and Letters to Officials

NYC - Written Testimony and Letters to Officials

Local (Outside NYC) - Letters to the Editor and the Media

Local (Outside NYC) - Written Testimony and Letters to Officials

National - Letters to the Editor and the Media

National - Written Testimony and Letters to Federal Officials

NYC - Letters to the Editor and the Media

Put two and two together, additional NYDN reader reactions, unpublished letters to the editor in response to Put two and two together, by Elizabeth Carson, Op-Ed, the New York Daily News, October 16, 2006.

Put two and two together, NYDN reader reactions, Letters to the Editor, the New York Daily News, October 20-27, 2006.

Lessons in the proper use of numbers and politics as usual, by Elizabeth Carson, Letter to the Editor, The Daily News, Oct 21, 2005 (not published).

Re: Where the Mayor Went Wrong (Diane Ravitch), by Nicole Vianna, Letter to the Editor, the WSJ, May 12, 2005 (not published).

America's Fading Competitive Edge, by Edward Grossman, Letters, The New York Times, May 13, 2005.

Joel Klein's Critics, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to the Editor, The New York Daily News, June 21, 2004 (not published).

Fuzzy Math, by Jonathan Goodman. Letters, New York Teacher, May 2004.

Education Debate not "Conservatives" versus "Liberals", by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to Mr. David M. Herszenhorn, The New York Times, March 17, 2004.

Parent perspective on New York City schools. Letter from Elizabeth Carson to Carl Campanile, New York Post, Feb 20, 2004.

"Balanced Literacy" is Bad Choice for New York City, by Lorraine Skeen. Letters, The New York Sun, Feb 12, 2004.

Fuzzy math in NYC schools, by Jonathan Goodman. Letter to the Editor, the Christian Science Monitor, Jan 26, 2004.

Bloomberg not Rising to Schools Challenge, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to the Editor, New York Daily News, Jan 15, 2004 (not published).

Diana Lam's Phonics Deficit, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to the Editor, the New York Post, Jan 15, 2004.

Gains in Houston Schools: How Real Are They? by Stanley Ocken. Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, Dec 3, 2003 (not published).

Re: "Five Forgotten Schools"; Edison in NYC, by Jonathan Goodman. The Stanford Daily, Letters, Oct 23, 2003.

Addressing Education Issues, by Denise Matava Haffenden (Letter to the Editor, NY Sun, Sep 27, 2003).

Progressive Miseducation, by Donna Garner. The New York Sun (letters), Sep 12-14, 2003.

New York's New Approach, by Donna Garner. Letter to the Editor, New York Times, Aug 3, 2003 (unpublished).

Teaching Math, What do Teachers Say? by Denise Matava Haffenden. Letter to the Editor, New York Teacher, March 17, 2003 (not published).

Shelley Harwayne's Challenge, by Denise Matava Haffenden. Letter to the Editor, the New York Times, Feb 21, 2003 (not published).

Same Soup at the Department of Education, by Denise Matava Haffenden. Letter to Insideschools, February 7, 2003.

Re: Chancellor Klein's Math Problem, by Betsy Combier. Letter to the Editor, NY Sun, Feb 6, 2003 (unpublished).

Do the Math. Re: "It Doesn't Add Up", by Jonathan Goodman. Letters, New York Newsday, February 1, 2003.

Re: "Klein's Math Still Fuzzy", by Maureen Weinberg. Letters, NY Sun, Jan 30, 2003.

Diane Briars and Pittsburgh Schools Performance on NSMRE, by Wayne Bishop. Letter to the Editor, New York Times, Jan 23, 2003 (unpublished).

Re: "Back to School Basics", by Martha Schwartz. Letter to the Editor, NY Post, Jan 22, 2003 (unpublished).

My 7-Year-Old's Math Problem, and Ours, by Dimitris Anastassiou. Letters, The New York Times, January 22, 2003.

Re: "Schoolbooks are Flubbing Facts", by Alan Siegel to New York Daily News (Dec 24, 2002; not published).

Chancellor Joel Klein Pans District 2 Math Programs, by Bas Braams to New York Daily News (Dec 17, 2002; not published).

Diana Lam's Record in Providence, Rhode Island, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to Abby Goodnough, The New York Times, Dec 2, 2002.

Math Problems ("A Mom Becomes a Math Maverick"), by Bas Braams, Letters, Our Town, Nov 28, 2002.

Re: Character Assassination in Math Debate Doesn't Add Up, by Jonathan Goodman. Letter to Tony Norman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 22, 2002.

Concern Over Diana Lam's Appointment, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to Abby Goodnough, The New York Times, Sep 6, 2002.

Fosnot Project Is Not Mathematics, by Ralph Raimi. Letters, Education News Update, Sep 5, 2002.

"Mathematics in the City" a Wasteland of Mathematical Content, by Denise Matava Haffenden. Letter, Education Update Online, Sep 5, 2002.

`Not Teaching What I Should Know', by Marielle Combier-Kapel. (Edited version published in The New York Sun, Aug 29, 2002).

School Board 10 Math Resolution, by Elizabeth Carson. (Edited version published in The New York Sun, Aug 29, 2002).

Why is there a crisis in mathematics education?, by Stanley Ocken. (Edited version published in The New York Sun, Aug 29, 2002).

Diana Lam's Appointment Bad News for NYC Schools, by Bas Braams. Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, Aug 29, 2002 (not published).

Diana Lam is Part of the Problem, by Denise Matava Haffenden. Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, Aug 29, 2002 (not published).

Joel Klein's Appointment of Diana Lam a Waste for New York City, by Michael McKeown. Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, Aug 28, 2002 (not published).

Mayor Bloomberg's Challenge in Mathematics Education, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, August 23, 2002 (not published).

Students as Guinea Pigs, by Elizabeth Carson, Letters, New York Times, Aug 14, 2002.

Only Way to Teach Kids is to Get Back to Basics, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to the Editor, New York Daily News, August 12, 2002 (not published).

Chancellor Levy's Failure, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, August 8, 2002 (not published).

Advice on the Appointment of Joel Klein as Chancellor in New York City, by Michael McKeown. Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, July 31, 2002 (not published).

Anthony Alvarado's Record in San Diego, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to Anemona Hartocollis, The New York Times, July 30, 2002.

Re: Mayor Bloomberg's Chancellor, by Jonathan Goodman. Letters, The New York Times, July 30, 2002.

Edison Schools; Public Schooling for Profit, by Wayne Bishop. Letter to the Editor, the New York Times, May 26, 2002 (not published).

Fuzzy math hurts students, by Marvin Bishop, Letters, Riverdale Review, Apr 4-10, 2002.

Re: "Math: Its No Longer Just by the Numbers", by Elizabeth Carson for Newsday, Apr 13, 2002.

No one method is right in teaching math, by Daniel Millstone, Letters, Riverdale Review Mar 28 - Apr 3, 2002.

Fuzzy math or robbing kids?, by J. Holmes, Letters, Riverdale Review, Jan 31 - Feb 6, 2002. (scroll down)

Why TERC?, by Marielle Combier-Kapel (letter to the NYT, January 24, 2002; unpublished)

Crying over math homework, by Betsy Combier, Letters, Riverdale Review, Jan 17-23, 2002.

'Fuzzy math' worse than you think, by Bill Quirk, Letters, Riverdale Review, Jan 10-16, 2002. (scroll down)

Re: "Madam, I'm 2002 - a Numerically Beautiful Year", by Jonathan Goodman. Letters, The New York Times, January 4, 2002.

Re: "Madam, I'm 2002 - a Numerically Beautiful Year", by Stanley Ocken. Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, January 2, 2002 (not published).

Diana Lam's Instructional Mistakes in Providence, RI, by Michael McKeown. Letter to Edward Achorn, The Providence Journal, Dec 11, 2001 (and addendum, Dec 15, 2001).

Time to acknowledge problems, by Denise Matava Haffenden, Letters, T&V, July 5, 2001.

Can the "new math" help raise student test scores? Letters from Cindy Pardo, Charlene Marchese, Barbara DePesa, Susan Erlanger, and Maggie David. The New York Post, April 28, 2001.

New York teacher preparation and "deep understanding", by Ralph Raimi. Letter to the Editor, The New York Post, April 26, 2001 (unedited).

Parents To Teachers: The 'New Math' Flunks. Letters from Anthony Belcastro, F. Joseph Merlino, Georgia Craig, Roy Moskowitz, Robert Bell, and David Rindskopf. The New York Post, April 22, 2001.

Letters to the New York Post re "New Math Agenda", by Frank Dobbs, Woodrow J. Elmore, Elizabeth Carson, Frank Minaudo, Maureen Weinberg, Jonathan Goodman, and Jim Hall. The New York Post, April 16, 2001.

To understand the math program, professor says, follow the money, by Ralph A. Raimi, Tribeca Trib, April 2001.

Give schools some local freedom, by Ralph A. Raimi, Letters, T&V, April 5, 2001.

Parents to Voice Concerns at CSD2 School Board Meeting, by Denise Mattava Haffenden to Mr. J. D. LaRock of NY1 News, Jan 29, 2001.

Discussion forum is the answer, by Denise Matava Haffenden, Op-Ed, T&V, Jan 25, 2001.

A Cartoon Version of Math, by Alan Siegel and Jonathan Goodman, Letters, T&V, Jan 25, 2001.

More Debate Over PS 234, Letters, Tribeca Trib, Sep 1997.

Two moms cite failures of "progressive" local schools, Letters, Tribeca Trib, June 1997.

(Back to the NYC HOLD Main Page; to the NYC HOLD News Page; or to the Top of This Page)

NYS - Letters to the Editor and the Media

Re: Soft-Headed on Schools, by Elizabeth Carson, Letter to the Editor , The New York Post, Dec 18, 2005 (not published).

TERC Investigations a Sad Choice for Rochester, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to the Editor, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 21, 2004.

Regents slow to solve math problems, by Richard H. Escobales, Jr.. Letters, The Buffalo News, Oct 27, 2003.

Re: The Test Mess. Letters, New York Times Magazine, April 21, 2002.

(Back to the NYC HOLD Main Page; to the NYC HOLD News Page; or to the Top of This Page)

NYS - Written Testimony and Letters to Officials

Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) "Costing Out" study, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to Chancellor Robert Bennett and Members of the NYS Board of Regents, December 19, 2003.

Testimony for State Assembly Education Committee Hearing on Regents Learning Standards and High School Graduation, by Ernest Tollerson, Partnership for New York City (Oct 15, 2003).

Serious Defects in Proposed NYS Standards for School Mathematics, a letter from Herbert A. Hauptman (Nobel Laureate, Chemistry) and others to New York State Schools Chancellor Carl T. Hayden (August 21, 1997).

(Back to the NYC HOLD Main Page; to the NYC HOLD News Page; or to the Top of This Page)

NYC - Written Testimony and Letters to Officials

(Unfortunately, much testimony over the past years was presented orally without written record. We urge parents and others to maintain a written record of all testimony.)

District 2 Community Education Council questions "constructivist" mathematics curricula, letter to Regional and District superintendents from CECD2, June 27, 2005.

The Chancellor's Performance at June 1, 2005, District 2 CEC Math Forum, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to Chancellor Klein, June 9, 2005.

New York City's K-8 Math Programs Woefully Inadequate, a letter to Chancellor Klein from Bruce Winokur, June 2, 2005.

High School Math Programs That Work, presentation at a math forum sponsored by the Community Education Council of District 2 (Manhattan), by Fred Greenleaf, June 1, 2005.

Constructivist mathematics curricula in NYC District 2, position paper for a CSD 2 / Region 9 Parents Meeting, by Bruce Winokur, May 24, 2005.

Bloomberg's big boast, by Elizabeth Carson, Letter, October 11, 2004.

Advice to a parent concerned with Everyday Mathematics, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to NYC Panel for Educational Policy, December 18, 2003.

Re: Klein to bolster nonwhite enrollment in gifted programs. Letter from Elizabeth Carson to Chancellor Joel I. Klein, Dec 6, 2003.

NAEP and Mathematics in New York City, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to Chancellor Klein of November 15, 2003.

TERC Investigations curriculum woefully inadequate. Letter to Ms. Eva Moskowitz and NYC Council Committee on Education from Mary van Valkenburg in connection with math education hearing on Nov 5, 2003.

Please reconsider fuzzy math mandates, by Maryann Stimmer. Letter to NYC Council Speaker Gifford Miller in connection with Education Committee hearing on Nov 5, 2003. (MSWord)

Outraged by Education Committee's Math "Hearing". Letter to the NYC Council Education Committee by Arthur P. Goldberg with regard to the Hearing on Nov 5, 2003.

New York City K-12 Mathematics Education in Chaos. Testimony by Stanley Ocken at School Mathematics Education Hearing of NYC Council Education Committee, November 5, 2003.

Taking Care of Mathematics Education. Testimony by Edmond David at School Mathematics Education Hearing of NYC Council Education Committee, November 5, 2003.

New York City the last stronghold of discredited curricula. Testimony by Jonathan Goodman at School Mathematics Education Hearing of NYC Council Education Committee, November 5, 2003.

Testimony at School Mathematics Education Hearing of NYC Council Education Committee, by Betsy Combier and Marielle Combier-Kapel. November 5, 2003.

Testimony at School Mathematics Education Hearing of NYC Council Education Committee (Eva Moskowitz, Chair), by Elizabeth Carson. November 5, 2003.

Testimony for Hearing on Mathematics Education of NYC Council Education Committee (Eva Moskowitz, Chair), by Bas Braams. November 5, 2003.

Sound Basic Education and the New York State Standards for Mathematics. Letter from Elizabeth Carson to Michael A Rebell, Campaign for Fiscal Equity, November 1, 2003.

Email to Chancellor Klein following a University Club luncheon talk, by Elizabeth Carson (September 27, 2003).

Three Success Stories in Sacramento and additional California data. Two letters from Elizabeth Carson to Chancellor Joel I. Klein. (Sep 7-8, 2003).

No Reports from the Children First Working Groups, by Bas Braams. Letter to members of the NYC Panel for Educational Policy, March 15, 2003.

Reversing the Decline in Mastery of Basic Mathematics, by Richard H. Escobales Jr. (Letter to Chancellor Joel I. Klein, Feb 20, 2003).

Experience with TERC Investigations in District 2. Letter from Susan Erlanger to Chancellor Klein, December 29, 2002.

Supplementation of TERC Investigations in District 2. Letter from Edwin Hittig to Chancellor Klein, Deputy Chancellor Lam and members of the Children First Numeracy Working Group, December, 2002.

In Support of Singapore Mathematics Curriculum. Letter by Maureen Weinberg to Chancellor Klein, December 20, 2002.

Stop TERC, CMP and ARISE Now. Letter from Deane Beebe to Chancellor Klein, Deputy Chancellor Lam, and members of the Children First Numeracy Working Group, December 2002.

Bas Braams to Chancellor Joel Klein, Dec 17 and 18, 2002. Two letters about mathematics in the Children First initiative.

Bas Braams to Chancellor Joel Klein, November 26, 2002. In connection with the Children First initiative.

Survey responses for attention of the Children First Numeracy Working Group (Nov 2002). Contributions by Marvin Bishop, Bas Braams, Sylvain Cappell, Elizabeth Carson, Ginny Donnelly, Jonathan Goodman, Fred Greenleaf, Leonie Haimson, David Klein, Christine Larson, Denise Matava Haffenden, Mike McKeown, Chuck Newman, Stanley Ocken, Marvin Rich, and Martha Schwartz.

NYC HOLD questions for Lucy West, Spring, 2002.

Elizabeth Carson, February 28, 2002. Testimony to the Education Committee of the NYC Council, on mayoral control and new governance of New York City public schools.

For Classic Math, Opposing the TERC and ARISE Programs. Letter by Laurence Lacoste-Brodsky to NYC Board of Education, January 24, 2002.

Elizabeth Carson, January 23, 2002. Urges the Board of Education to reject a set of proposed contracts for professional development allied to NCTM Standards based programs.

Stanley Ocken, January 23, 2002. Recommends to the Board of Education not to adopt mathematics curriculum contracts without approval by an expert review committee.

Diane Goldstein Temkin to Chancellor Levy and BOE, January 23, 2002. Opposing the proposed funding for professional development in TERC and related Math programs.

Christine Larson to BOE, January 23, 2002. Opposing the proposed funds for professional development in `fuzzy math' teaching.

Jeanne Kassler to BOE, January 23, 2002.

Bas Braams to Board of Education, January 22, 2002. Opposing a set of proposed contracts for professional development in constructivist mathematics teaching.

Jonathan Goodman to Ms. Segarra, January 1, 2002.

Bas Braams to Mr. Dennis Walcott, December 22, 2001. Offering some advice to the incoming Deputy Mayor for Policy (including education) in the new Bloomberg administration.

Stanley Ocken to BOE a.o., December 12, 2001. In connection with the proposed establishment of the CSD2 Upper East Side High School. Professor Ocken writes that mandated K-11 math programs in CSD2 do not prepare students for Advanced Placement and college courses in mathematics and physics.

Ralph Raimi to BOE, December 12, 2001. A warning against extending to the proposed new Upper East Side High School the mathematics programs in place elsewhere in CSD2.

Bas Braams to Board of Education, December 11, 2001. About the establishment of a new Upper East Side High School in CSD2.

Elizabeth Carson, November 28, 2001. Expresses "grave reservations" over the plan to grant Community School Board 2 responsibility to govern the proposed new Upper East Side high school.

NYC HOLD to Chancellor Levy a.o., May 28, 2001. Urging the recipients' attendance at the NYC HOLD math forum in June.

Susan Erlanger to Chancellor Levy, April 19, 2001.

Ralph Raimi to Lucy West, March 15, 2001. Inquires about the possibility of a change in District 2 math programs before expiration of the NSF "Reconceptualizing Mathematics Teaching and Learning Through Professional Development" grant.

CSD2 Parents to CSB2, February 5, 2001. Five questions by District 2 parents to their community school board that were left unanswered at an earlier meeting.

Ginny Donnelly, January 30, 2001. Testimony to Community School Board 2.

Denise Matava Haffenden, January 30, 2001. To Community School Board 2 regarding the mathematics curriculum.

Jonathan Goodman and Alan Siegel, January 2001. Recommendations for the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Chancellor's Commission on Mathematics in New York City. (PDF format)

NYC HOLD to Eva Moskowitz, January 12, 2001. Concerning the cancellation by Community School Board 2 of the planned Math forum.

Mary Somoza to Dr. Maureen Weinberg. Ms. Somoza, member of CSB #2, confirms widespread concerns regarding the mathematics curricula in place in the District.

NYC HOLD to Eva Moskowitz, January 8, 2001. In connection with a planned Math forum for CSD2 parents.

Elizabeth Carson to Harold O. Levy, December 30, 2000. Calling attention to Nurturing the Life of the Mind: If Schools Don't Value Intellect, Who Will?

Maureen Weinberg to Shelley Harwayne, December 20, 2000. Ms. Weinberg explains that, primarily because of the District 2 mathematics curriculum, she has decided to homeschool her daughter.

Elizabeth Carson to Michael Kasloff, December 1, 2000. Concerning the mathematics curriculum in the newly founded District 1 school New Explorations into Science Technology and Math (NEST+M).

NYC HOLD to Office of Eva Moskowitz, December 1, 2000. Documenting the CSD2 parents' concerns regarding mathematics education.

NYC HOLD to Chancellor Levy a.o., November 27, 2000. Urging the recipients' attendance at a Community School Board 2 meeting at which Courant faculty and concerned parents expect to testify.

Mary Somoza, CSB #2 meeting, Nov 28, 2000. The Board after hearing public testimony and Ms. Somoza's statement, voted that night to postpone a decision on cancellation of the math forum, and then at a subsequent working meeting where the public was not allowed to speak, the Board voted to cancel the Math Forum.

Mathematicians Input to Chancellor Levy's Math Commission, by Jonathan Goodman. Letter to Deputy Chancellor for Instruction Dr. Judith Rizzo, Oct 4, 2000.

Garry Dobbins to Harold Levy, October 2, 2000. An attempt to obtain from the Schools' Chancellor some answers about the TERC curriculum that were not obtained from District 2 officials.

Christine Larson to CSB2, June 6, 2000.

Garry Dobbins to CSB2, June 5, 2000.

Garry Dobbins to Dr. Curcio, May 30, 2000. An attempt to elicit from Dr. Curcio just how learning is expected to take place under the TERC curriculum.

Garry Dobbins to Ms. Fink, April 19, 2000. Regarding the TERC curriculum in District 2.

Elizabeth Carson, April 17, 2000. Welcoming remarks at a CSD #2 Math Night.

Elizabeth Carson, March 28, 2000. Remarks submitted to The Community School Board Two.

Christine Larson and Elizabeth Carson, March 28, 2000. A reference list of 35 papers and reports appended to Elizabeth Carson's testimony of that same date.

Bruce Winokur, March 28, 2000. Testimony submitted to CSB #2.

CSD2 Parents, April, 2000. Fifteen questions regarding the implementation of District 2 Math curricula.

(Back to the NYC HOLD Main Page; to the NYC HOLD News Page; or to the Top of This Page)

Local (Outside NYC) - Letters to the Editor and the Media

New math programs [Investigations, Everyday] are widely criticized, by Holly Horrigan, Letters, The Needham Times [MA], November 18, 2006.

Westford math programs [TERC Investigations] flawed, by Deanna E. Bossia, Letters, The Lowell [MA] Sun, November 15, 2006.

Math Curriculum Content is Critical, by Jo Anne Cobasko, Letters, The Thousand Oaks (CA) Acorn, July 20, 2006.

Report on the Wright Group's Growing With Mathematics K-6 Curriculum (author Calvin Irons 2004), by Tyler Jarvis, Brigham Young University, May 2, 2006.

First, learn high school material, by Stephen Zilora, Letters, The Penfield Post, Dec 8, 2005.

Board can't seem to get the math right, by Karen Zilora, Letters, The Penfield Post, Nov 17, 2005.

Still unhappy with Everyday Math, by Jo Anne Cobasko, Letters, The Thousand Oaks (CA) Acorn, Nov 10, 2005.

[Penfield, NY] Math curriculum hurting have-nots, by John R. Jorgensen, Letters, The Penfield Post, June 23, 2005.

A flawed defense of fuzzy math, by Matthew W. Geherin, Letters, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 20, 2005.

New direction needed for Providence [RI] schools, by Henry Marciano, Letters, The Providence Journal, June 17, 2005.

Homeschooling and test scores, by Jo Anne Cobasko, Letters, The Ventura County Star, June 8, 2005.

Another unhappy parent sounds off on Everyday Math, by Lisa Lima, Letters, The Thousand Oaks Acorn, June 2, 2005.

'Fuzzy math' lesson failed, by Matthew W. Geherin, Letters, The Penfield (NY) Post, May 19, 2005.

Schools Must Face Up to Math Woes, by Claudia Lioy, Letters, The Penfield (NY) Post, March 17, 2005.

Reader Objects to Everyday Math, by Jo Anne Cobasko, Letters, The Thousand Oaks (CA) Acorn, Dec 30, 2004.

Questions Schools, by James and Jo Anne Cobasko, Letters, The Thousand Oaks (CA) Acorn, Oct 21, 2004.

Local (Outside NYC) - Written Testimony and Letters to Officials

Opposed to Everyday Mathematics program in Hollis, NH, by Tony Falcone, Ph.D., from letter to school board.

An Open Letter in Support of California's Standards System for K-12 Education, from Faculty members and administrators from colleges and universities in California to Governor Schwarzenegger and Members of the California Legislature, Sep/Oct 2006.

Re Everyday Mathematics and Saxon Math, by Bas Braams, Letter to Kanawha, WV, School Board Members, March 29, 2006.

Math at Penfield, NY, high school not effective, by Jeffrey J. Folkins, email to Penfield School Board, July 15, 2005.

Bas Braams: Further advice for the incoming superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Letter to Michael Bennet by Bas Braams, July 4/5, 2005.

FOIA Request re June 2005 District of Columbia Textbook Adoption, Letter by Barry Garelick, June 21, 2005.

Disappointed in the Adoption of UCSMP Everyday Mathematics. Letter to the DCPS Superintendent, by Barry Garelick, June 17, 2005.

Advice Against Everyday Mathematics and Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) for DC Public Schools, by Ralph Raimi. Letter to DCPS Superintendent and Board, June 15, 2005.

Saxon versus Everyday Mathematics in the DCPS Curriculum Adoption, by Karen Budd-Jones. Letter to DCPS Superintendent and Board, June 15, 2005.

Advice Against Everyday Mathematics and Connected Mathematics Project for DCPS, by Adele J. Hlasnik. Letter to DCPS Superintendent and Board, June 15, 2005.

Advice Against the Adoption of "Everyday Mathematics". Letter to the DCPS Board Chair and Superintendent, by Barry Garelick, June 15, 2005.

District of Columbia Math Textbook Adoption, Everyday Mathematics and Worse. Letter to the DCPS Board and Superintendent, by Bas Braams, June 15, 2005.

Penfield's Math Programs, Letter to Penfield School Board Members by Bill Munch for "Parents Concerned with Penfield's Math Programs", May 25, 2005.

SOCMM Public Comments on Everyday Math. Testimony by Jo Anne Cobasko and Bill Faust for Save Our Children from Mediocre Math to Conejo Valley (CA) school board, May 10, 2005.

Parent Petition for Traditional Mathematics in Clayton, MO, High School, from an email of Marguerite Bliss to Elizabeth Carson, May 8, 2005.

Seeking "Math Choice" in Conejo Valley, CA. Testimony by Jo Anne Cobasko for SOCMM to CVUSD school board, March 22, 2005; also Testimony of March 8, 2005, and Letter to Superintendent and School Board of February 27, 2005.

Presentation of a Mathematics Petition to Penfield (NY) BOE, by Bill Munch for "Parents Concerned with Penfield's Math Programs", April 26, 2005.

Statement for the BOE of Penfield, NY, Regarding Its Mathematics Programs, by Ralph A. Raimi, April 26, 2005.

Fordham Review of Washington State Math Standards, by Patricia Bailey. Testimony to the Seattle School Board, January 19, 2005.

Mathematics Reform and Professional Development, by Patricia Bailey. Testimony to the Seattle School Board, January 05, 2005.

Criticism of Integrated Math Program (Houghton-Mifflin), by Patricia Bailey. Testimony to the Seattle School Board, December 15, 2004.

Testimony re: TERC Investigations Mathematics Program, by Patricia Bailey, to the Seattle School Board, October and November, 2004.

"Class Warfare" by J. Martin Rochester and Seattle School Reforms, by Patricia Bailey. Testimony to the Seattle School Board, September 1, 2004.

Presentation for Math Town Hall in Colorado Springs, by Barry Fagin, Feb 2, 2004.

Petition to Upgrade Maryland's Mathematics Standards, by Jerry Dancis, Steve Wilson, Jack Morava and 50 further MD math and science faculty, 2002.

National - Letters to the Editor and the Media

Letters from NYC HOLD Call to Action, December, 2007. Letters cc'ed to nycholdnational@gmail.com; most are in reaction to a column by Michelle Malkin: Fuzzy math: A nationwide epidemic, Nov 28, 2007, or Everyday Math = Junk, Dec 7, 2007.

Everyday Math = Junk, Letters to the Editor in response to an Op-Ed by Michelle Malkin, The New York Post, Dec. 2007.

I Could Go On, by Barry Garelick, response to an article in Education Week, March 16, 2007.

And an Essayist Misreads Alfred North Whitehead, by Stanley Ocken, Letters, Education Week, March 21, 2007.

Bas Braams: Advice for the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Letter to columnist Linda Seebach by Bas Braams, July 1, 2005.

Wayne Bishop: Advice for the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Letter to columnist Linda Seebach by Wayne Bishop, June 30, 2005.

Barry Garelick: Advice for the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Letter to columnist Linda Seebach by Barry Garelick, June 30, 2005.

Mike McKeown: Advice for the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Letter to columnist Linda Seebach by Mike McKeown, June 30, 2005.

Ten Myths (Truly) About Learning Math, Letter to the Editor, The Washington Post, May 31, 2005 (not published).

Re: Diane Ravitch, Where the Mayor Went Wrong, by Carla Albers, Letter to the Editor, The Wall Street Journal, May 12, 2005 (not published).

San Diego and NYC "Schools That Work" No Model for Reform. Letter to Hedrick Smith Productions by Carolyn Prager, Advocates for Public Representation in Public Education, April 22, 2005.

Mathematics Learning, San Diego Segment, PBS Documentary "Schools That Work", by William R. Hook to Hedrick Smith Productions, March 29, 2005.

PBS Documentary "Schools That Work" and TERC Investigations Mathematics, by Stanley Ocken to Hedrick Smith Productions, March 27, 2005.

PBS Documentary "Schools That Work" and Manhattan District 2, by Betsy Scherl to Hedrick Smith Productions, March 29, 2005.

Successful District 2 in NYC?, by Ralph A. Raimi to Hedrick Smith Productions, March 26, 2005.

Hedrick Smith "Schools That Work" and Manhattan District 2, by Betsy Combier to Hedrick Smith Productions, March 26, 2005.

PBS Documentary "Schools That Work" and College Mathematics, by W. Stephen Wilson to Hedrick Smith Productions, March 26, 2005.

Schools That Don't Work, letter to Hedrick Smith Productions by Laurie Kelleher, March 25, 2005.

Re: The Best Ways to Make Schoolchildren Learn? We Just Don't Know, by Carla Albers, Letters, The Wall Street Journal, Jan 7, 2005.

Remove roadblocks first, by Susan Sarhady, Letters, The Dallas Morning News, Oct 24, 2004.

Coffee shop experience proves education crisis, by Pamela Occhino, The Buffalo News, Oct 24, 2004.

Calculators, 'Pretend' Exam Add Up to Poor Math Skills, by Jerome Dancis, Letters, The Washington Post, May 27, 2004. (See also the author's Web page.)

F. Joseph Merlino's Math is Unproven, by Gregg Settle, Letters, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 26, 2004.

Merlino Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks, by Gregg Settle. Letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, April 18, 2004 (unpublished).

Math Program Set Back North Penn Students, by Trish Gallagher. Letter to the Editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 16, 2004.

Bronx Teachers' Lesson, by Elizabeth Carson. Letter to the Editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 14, 2004.

Touted Math Program Proved to be a Failure, by Wayne Bishop. Letter to the Editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 7, 2004.

Re Julia Steiny Edwatch: Kids' brains dictate how they learn, by Stephen Hollister. Letter to Ms. Julia Steiny, January 6, 2004.

American Students Still Deficient in Math, by Carla Albers. Letters, The Colorado Springs Gazette, Dec 16, 2003.

Perturbed and Disturbed about NAEP Test Scores, by Charles R. Lewis. Letter to the Editor, The Washington Times, Nov 28, 2003.

Reformers 'Gutted' K-12 Mathematics, by Jonathan Goodman (Letters, EdW, March 12, 2003).

How to End the Math and Reading Wars, by Jonathan Goodman. Letter to the Editor, The Christian Science Monitor, February 10, 2003.

Somerset Elementary School Parents Concerned about TERC Curriculum. Letter to Bellevue (WA) superintendent Dr. Mike Riley, Jan 22, 2003.

New Math Standards and Teaching Methods, by Ralph A. Raimi (RDC, 021202). Followed by an email exchange with a past teacher, John Bliss.

Basic Skills and Understanding, by Ze'ev Wurman. (Concerning an article in Education Week, Nov 20, 2002.)

Connected Math is Leaving Parents at a Loss, by Susan Sarhady. Letter to Mr. Jacob Quinn Sanders of the Philadelphia Inquirer in response to an article of June 13, 2002.

Re: Parents Hungry for ABC's Find Schools Don't Add Up, by R. James Milgram. Letter to Ms. Kate Zernike (NYT), April 24, 2001.

National - Written Testimony and Letters to Federal Officials

Re Proposed Move of MSP Funds from NSF/EHR to Department of Education, by Susan Burklund. Letter to Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, February 18, 2004.

In Support of Moving MSP Funds from NSF/EHR to Education Department, by Ralph Raimi to Honorable John A. Boehner, Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

In Support of Moving MSP Funds from NSF/EHR to Education Department, by Stanley Ocken to Members of the House Science Committee, Feb 12, 2004.

In Support of Moving MSP Funds from NSF/EHR to Education Department, by Timotha Trigg to Chairman Boehlert and Members of the House Science Committee, Feb 12, 2004.

In Support of Moving MSP Funds from NSF/EHR to Education Department, by David Klein to Chairman Boehlert and Members of the House Science Committee, Feb 12, 2004.

Presentation to the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors, by Wayne Bishop, Oct 24, 2002 (with a postscript). (MS Word)

NSF Education and Human Resources Directorate and K-12 Mathematics, by Wilfried Schmid. Letter to Representatives Nick Smith and Sherwood Boehlert, May 7, 2002.

NSF/EHR Damage to Mathematics Education, by David Klein. Letter to Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, April 15, 2002.

Testimony on the Draft 2004 Mathematics Framework (for NAEP), by John Hoven on behalf of the Center for Education Reform (Sep 24, 2001). Hoven finds that the "hard" 8th grade NAEP problems are at a level similar to Singapore's grade 5.

Draft 2004 Mathematics Framework for NAEP, by Tom Loveless. Testimony to the National Assessment Governing Board, September 24, 2001.

NAEP and high expectations, by Alan Siegel. Testimony to the National Assessment Governing Board, September 24, 2001.

Public Statement to member of the Higher Education and Public Policy Joint Committee of the Minnesota Legislature, by Lawrence Gray, Jan 25, 2001.

David Klein to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Activities, April 4, 2000.

James Milgram to House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Feb 2, 2000. Against the low standards in mathematics programs pushed by the Department of EHR at the NSF and the Department of Education.

Susan Sarhady to House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Feb 2, 2000. Describes how the NSF-funded Texas Statewide Systemic Initiative imposed the disastrous CMP mathematics program on her children, and asks that, in the future, the Federal Government refrain from doing harm.

Mark Schwartz to House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Feb 2, 2000. About the imposition of Core Plus mathematics on a Bloomfield Hills, MI, high school and the resulting parent rebellion.

David Klein, Richard Askey, R. James Milgram, Hung-Hsi Wu, Martin Scharlemann, and Betty Tsang to Secretary of Education Riley (1999). The letter, which was endorsed by about 200 further mathematicians and scientists and was published in the Washington Post, urges the Secretary to withdraw a list of "exemplary" and "promising" mathematics curricula published by his Department.

Martha Schwartz to House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families, June 11, 1998. A co-founder of Mathematically Correct testifies for explicit, detailed, objective, content-based standards of learning; reliable, objective tests to match the standards; and for greater independence of the National Assessment Governing Board.

Prof. Henry Alder and approx. 120 others to President Clinton, Nov 20, 1996. "The current national outcry for standards of learning reflects the need for our educational system to focus on content and academics." The letter urges President Clinton to read, personally, The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them by E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

(Back to the NYC HOLD Main Page; to the NYC HOLD News Page; or to the Top of This Page)

NYC HOLD: nycholdnational@gmail.com
Web editor: braams@math.nyu.edu

(Back to the NYC HOLD Main Page; to the NYC HOLD News Page; or to the Top of This Page)