Testimony of Denise Haffenden
to Community School Board 2
Good evening.
My name is Denise Matava Haffenden. Approximately 2 months ago I came to a school
board meeting to make a statement regarding my dissatisfaction with the math
curriculum in District 2.
I realize that the choice of math curriculum is just
symptomatic of many other issues, such as parental involvement, curriculum
choice and the roles the elected school board officials play in our childrens
lives.
There are others here tonight who will comment,
probably for the first time, about their concerns with the math curriculum in
District 2. I want to state my
experience so far.
The District and the School Board is never willing to
address parental concerns regarding this issue which is to say that parents are
expected to rubber stamp decisions already made. When parents question the implementation of
this math curriculum are you saying the parents are upsetting a delicate
balance that truly doesn't involve us
If the District and the School Board truly wants to
address parental concerns, could you explain the rationalization for denying a
math forum? When board members, John
Crossmans stated that he has faith in this board, yet his child is still being
tutored, and Doug Robinson's stated that math was too academic and lofty a
subject for the parents; why was the logical solution to shut down the forum,
withholding information that might answer their questions. .It seems the only answer we get is that it
will be studied and looked into. And
unfortunately for us parents, time moves on.
It seems they've adopted the waiting game, our kids will move on and the
next group of parents, who start to realize that their kids are deficient in
math skills, will turn to this Board to get answers. And do you know what will happen? They will hear the myths of long ago, the
ones you and I are being weaned on right now.
Such as:
Once upon a time there was a bad teacher who despite
so much staff development couldn't teach the children math, or what about the
other one, parents who didn't go to math night didn't get to hear the Gospel of
TERC according to Lucy. These parents
will miss out on hearing the superstition that gets passed on from generation
to generation: Don't ever mix TERC with
traditional math. Your kids scores will
go down!
Our kids have only one opportunity for their
childhood experiences. Based on what you
know, do you really feel comfortable having your child's future depend on
people who are not even willing to hear your concerns and delay and stall at
every opportunity until we go away?
If the District is not willing or able to discuss
math in a unified and open forum, then maybe parents and mathematicians should
sponsor the math forum. Maybe we should
have a math committee to evaluate and research curriculum. And maybe we should evaluate their roles as
our representatives because we represent public education.