Since early 2005 a parent group in Penfield (a suburb of Rochester), New York, has been fighting for quality mathematics programs in their public schools. The parent group has a web site, Parents Concerned With Penfield's Math Programs; please visit that site for the most up-to-date information.
The curricula in the Penfield schools in effect in 2004-2005 are Scott Foresman (TERC) Investigations in Number, Data, and Space in grades K-5; Connected Mathematics Program (CMP) in grades 6-8, and Core-Plus Mathematics Project (CPMP) in grades 9-12. As evidenced in the NYC HOLD pages of curriculum reviews (Reviews of TERC Investigations; Reviews of Connected Mathematics Program; Reviews of Core-Plus Mathematics Project) these three programs are among the worst of the NCTM-inspired "fuzzy" mathematics programs for their respective grades.
The Penfield parent group created a petition for math choice, which, together with 671 signatures, was presented to the Penfield Board of Education at a meeting on April 26, 2005. To-date, the Penfield Board has denied that petition.
New York City HOLD is following the Penfield "Math Wars" with much interest and with support for the parent group, and we are posting relevant news, letters, and testimony on the NYC HOLD web site. This present page is an index to those items. The TeachUsMath web site of Parents Concerned With Penfield's Math Programs is often the primary source of the information, and also has additional items, such as the petition and some parent contributions at school board meetings, that are not on the NYC HOLD pages.
Presentation to the Penfield School Board, by Bill Munch, February 7, 2006.
Remarks to Board of Education, by Joe Hoover, February 7, 2006.
Math program changes get mixed reviews, by Amy Cavalier, The Penfield Post, December 8, 2005.
First, learn high school material, by Stephen Zilora, Letters, The Penfield Post, December 8, 2005.
Changes to math curriculum to get airing, by Amy Cavalier, The Penfield Post, November 24, 2005.
Board can't seem to get the math right, by Karen Zilora, Letters, The Penfield Post, November 17, 2005.
'Innovative' Math, but Can You Count?, by Samuel G. Freedman, The New York Times, November 9, 2005. Reports on the Math Wars over TERC Investigations and Connected Mathematics Program in Penfield, NY.
NYS Math--Who's failing whom?, Editorial, The Penfield High School Pendulum, September 5, 2005.
A foolish move by school board, Editorial, The Penfield Post, September 1, 2005.
Parents call school board meeting into question, by Amy Cavalier, The Penfield Post, August 18, 2005.
Signs point to needed change, by Glenda Bondy, Letters, The Penfield Post, July 28, 2005.
Math at Penfield, NY, high school not effective, by Jeffrey J. Folkins, email to Penfield School Board, July 15, 2005.
Why American kids aren't learning math, by Ralph A. Raimi, The Greece Post [NY], July 8, 2005.
[Penfield] Math curriculum hurting have-nots, by John R. Jorgensen, Letters, The Penfield Post, June 23, 2005.
[Penfield, NY] School Board: Only one math program, by Amy Cavalier, 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.
Penfield parents dig for math answers, by Enid Arbelo, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 17, 2005.
Why Penfield's kids aren't learning math, by Ralph Raimi, Guest Essay, The Penfield (NY) Post, June 9, 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.
'Fuzzy math' lesson failed, by Matthew W. Geherin, Letters, The Penfield (NY) Post, May 19, 2005.
Parents Question "Fuzzy" Math , by Holly Maynard, Channel 13 WHAM, Rochester (NY), May 18, 2005.
For some, 'fuzzy math' simply doesn't add up, by Enid Arbelo, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, May 10, 2005.
More than 600 petition for math changes, by Amy Cavalier, The Penfield (NY) Post, May 5, 2005.
A numbers question - Involved Penfield parents are taking on the math curricula, Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicl, May 4, 2005.
Parents give new math programs [TERC, CMP, and Core Plus] a big fat minus, by Enid Arbelo, Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, April 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.
Mathematics Petitions to Be Presented to Penfield (NY) BOE, Press release from "Parents Concerned with Penfield's Math Programs", April 26, 2005.
[Penfield, NY] Old School and New School Clash, by Kate Welshofer, Rochester (NY) R-News TV, April 26, 2005.
When Does a School Board Take Action?, The Penfield (NY) Post, March 24, 2005.
Parents still divided on new math program, The Penfield (NY) Post, March 10, 2005.
Schools Must Face Up to Math Woes, by Claudia Lioy, Letters, The Penfield (NY) Post, March 17, 2005.
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