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Re: Traditional versus reform
Posted:
Feb 19, 1999 8:47 AM
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wb> [Stamping approval on instructional materials] was a very good idea,
but the idea was rejected by the leadership of the NCTM.
bd> Why is it a good idea? There are many reasons for NOT doing so, but
very few for conducting business that way. It seems more reasonable to
allow knowledgeable practitioners make their decisions based on
professional knowledge. NCTM has no need to engage in examining thousands
of materials to assess their (dis)agreement with the Standards. Regardless
(and contrary to your implication), this policy has nothing to do with the
Standards -- it's been in place for decades. Further, I don't know of any
professional organization that endorses materials. I believe it was the
American Medical Association that recently considered making endorsements,
and they received considerable flak about that policy before abandoning it.
Professional organizations aren't in that business, nor should they be.
wb> The willingness to lay claim to undisputable virtues in the abstract
and to set up straw men of what others "believe", but also in the abstract,
has been the bedrock foundation of the Standards movement.
bd> Funny. I don't recall NCTM publishing anything of the sort. That seems
more in line with the "Mathematically Correct" folks. Can you identify a
single publication where NCTM "set up straw men of what others believe," or
is this just another example of your rhetorical nonsense?
wb> Until the NCTM is willing to say - in a very public and very specific
manner - that this is "good" and that is "bad" with regard to its
Standards, it will remain essentially useless from the perspective of
actual decision makers.
bd> Not "useless from the perspective of actual decision makers" who are
capable of thought. Most professionals who understand the Standards are
also capable of assessing whether materials can be used to meet the
Standards without NCTM bothering to "think" for them. Again, I'll look
forward to your citation for the NCTM "Straw Man" comments (though I'm not
holding my breath since it doesn't exist).
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