Whole approach to math must change

I’m writing in reference to the Monday article on WASL retake results falling short. How long before the pinheads in the Department of Education realize (or should I say admit) that their social experiment in the teaching of mathematics has fallen short of expectations? The U.S. is last, or close to it, in the civilized world in math. Our kids cannot pass the math portion of the WASL, and yet the teaching remains the same. I have not talked with a middle school or high school math teacher who has had anything good to say about the way they are “forced” to teach mathematics. If you are a parent and have ever looked at your child’s math book, or ever tried to help them with their math, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Start teaching high school children math from college math books, which actually have something that resembles math in them, and watch them excel. Until then, expect the same results.

Dean Peckham

Arlington