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Re: Math Forum and the math-teach discussion
Posted:
Jul 21, 2007 6:09 PM
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On 7/21/07, Haim <hpipik@netzero.com> wrote:
>
> " This is only to be expected, as I have asserted a few times, because
> there really are no important unresolved pedagogical issues in teaching
> mathematics, especially at the K-12 level."
I question whether there are really no important unresolved pedagogical
issues at K12 level. If this were true then our nations students might be
excelling in mathematics and they are not. Why do you think this?
Rather, math education suffers because of larger issues in the political
> environment of teaching, i.e., issues beyond the classroom. And that is
> where the great strength of MATH-TEACH has been. MATH-TEACH has been a
> forum for exploring these larger environmental issues.
I agree here that the political environment is getting in the way of fixing
things for the students of America. We as educators are polarized in our
views of how to help students, and it is the students who suffer most.
Looking for common ground and real live actions we can take might help.
>From what I have heard and thought I understood on this list, there is no
one saying that content is not critical, there is no one saying that using
learning strategies for specific situations has no value.
One of the reasons I chose to remain on the math-teach list was what you
speak of as the great strength. If enough discussions were held nationwide
with a goal to find common ground - well, we might be able to fix some
maladies.
We all know what this forum's central problem is, and there is no use in
> averting our eyes from it. A very small number of MATH-TEACH participants,
> one person especially, has made it his business to poison the waters of
> MATH-TEACH by personally defaming everyone else, in the vilest possible
> terms. He does it volubly and relentlessly and almost invariably he
> succeeds in shutting down all debate. To say nothing of scaring off old and
> potential participants of this forum.
>
> Solve him and you have solved your problem.
I have noted a remarkable change in the language used in posts since "my
experiment". Additionally I would say that it takes more than one to
perpetuate personal conflict in communication.
Do we really want to complain and slander each other or have intellectual
discussions that could solve problems? What is our commitment to improving
education in America?
Myself I am committed to do all I can personally to investigate the
situation and to make changes that will be valued and help our nation's
kids succeed.
Anna
<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 7/21/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Haim</b> <<a href="mailto:hpipik@netzero.com">hpipik@netzero.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
" This is only to be expected, as I have asserted a few times, because there really are no important unresolved pedagogical issues in teaching mathematics, especially at the K-12 level."</blockquote><div><br>I question whether there are really no important unresolved pedagogical issues at K12 level. If this were true then our nations students might be excelling in mathematics and they are not. Why do you think this?
<br></div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Rather, math education suffers because of larger issues in the political environment of teaching,
i.e., issues beyond the classroom. And that is where the great strength of MATH-TEACH has been. MATH-TEACH has been a forum for exploring these larger environmental issues.</blockquote><div><br>I agree here that the political environment is getting in the way of fixing things for the students of America. We as educators are polarized in our views of how to help students, and it is the students who suffer most. Looking for common ground and real live actions we can take might help.
<br><br>From what I have heard and thought I understood on this list, there is no one saying that content is not critical, there is no one saying that using learning strategies for specific situations has no value. <br> <br>
One of the reasons I chose to remain on the math-teach list was what you speak of as the great strength. If enough discussions were held nationwide with a goal to find common ground - well, we might be able to fix some maladies.
<br><br><br></div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> We all know what this forum's central problem is, and there is no use in averting our eyes from it. A very small number of MATH-TEACH participants, one person especially, has made it his business to poison the waters of MATH-TEACH by personally defaming everyone else, in the vilest possible terms. He does it volubly and relentlessly and almost invariably he succeeds in shutting down all debate. To say nothing of scaring off old and potential participants of this forum.
<br><br> Solve him and you have solved your problem.</blockquote><div><br><br>I have noted a remarkable change in the language used in posts since "my experiment". Additionally I would say that it takes more than one to perpetuate personal conflict in communication.
<br><br>Do we really want to complain and slander each other or have intellectual discussions that could solve problems? What is our commitment to improving education in America? <br><br>Myself I am committed to do all I can personally to investigate the situation and to make changes that will be valued and help our nation's kids succeed.
<br><br>Anna<br><br><br></div><br><br></div><br>
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