Position Statement | Open Letter to Minister Eggen:
Math Learning and Parent Voice
Dear Minister Eggen;
A recent letter from Deputy Minister of Education Curtis Clarke states the department has cut off communication with Dr. Tran-Davies on the issue of math education.
“We consider the matter of how mathematics is taught at individual schools closed at this time and will not be communicating further with you on this topic,” Clarke says.
CAPSC executive is very concerned by this move, as the response seems to downplay the concerns of many Calgary parents who need solutions. Dr. Nhung Tran-Davies has gathered 18,000 signatures on her petition requesting changes to Alberta’s math curriculum.
Respected educators have echoed these concerns. Dr. John Bowman, professor of mathematical and statistical sciences at the University of Alberta, says significant problems are appearing at the post-secondary level in math-centric programs.
“In recent years, the high-school preparation of students enrolled in first-year Engineering Calculus and Honours Calculus courses at the University of Alberta has noticeably deteriorated,” Bowman says.
“Students are not coming in with the same level of skills. Exams that were the norm 20 years ago are too difficult these days. Ten years ago the discussion among the Math 100 and 101 instructors used to be where between 50 and 55 the cutoff for a passing grade should be. The discussion now is where between 45 and 50 that passing grade should be.”
As a voice for students, parents are the primary stakeholder in education. Parents don’t have the luxury of public financing for advocacy issues that other stakeholders do. Considering this, government should make every effort to ensure meaningful access exists, even when the opinions expressed do not support government’s current direction.
Parents are worried. CAPSC executive has heard from parent members who, in a financially challenging time, feel forced to engage math tutoring outside of school at their own expense. This is not accessible public education. Although CAPSC has requested the results of the Student Learning Assessments (SLAs) that were meant to replace PATs, and the curriculum redesign modules submitted in January, Alberta Education has not yet released them.
Transparency and access are critical to a system of checks and balances. Providing this key information to all stakeholders, including parents, is essential to meaningful consultation.
We believe the Minister cannot delegate responsibility for math performance away from the Department of Education. If a school is underperforming, parents have no effective way to hold a school accountable. If the Minister will not hold school boards accountable, then who will?
In February, CAPSC organized an event to discuss ‘Keys to Math Excellence,’ inviting educators from across the system to participate in a positive discussion about best practices in math. Feedback from that event indicated that although parents are seeing the results of poor math curriculum, school boards have not been responsive enough.
Parents speak on behalf of children, whom the education system exists to serve. Research shows that parent involvement has a positive impact on student achievement. A continuing meaningful conversation between parents, school councils and educators serves to improve our education system.
Our parent members have clearly demonstrated that they consider parent voice, independent of school boards, to be necessary. We hope that our democratically elected officials will continue to work with all parents to develop the best possible solutions.
We ask the Minister to re-open the discussion with parents, and to release the SLA results and curriculum redesign modules submitted to Alberta Education. We believe this is in the best interest of transparency and engagement with parents.
As the Minister just announced a complete overhaul of curriculum, we also look forward to hearing how CAPSC may assist the Minister in ensuring adequate consultation exists with parents.
Further information
Dr. John C. Bowman, quoted here, is Professor at the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, BS Eng (Alberta), MA (Princeton), PhD (Princeton).
Link to access Dr. Tran-Davies response to Minister Clarke’s letter.
I would like to mention that now a days students are slave of technology. They depend on IPad, gadgets and computers. If you ask them what is 9×9 they needs few seconds to give you corrdct answers.
In my opinion focis on memorization rather tha technology. I remember we always memories tables and give the answer without even thinking.
Please do not make our kids technology slave.
I am university teacher and IT person but I always used technology as a tool to save my time but never depend on it.
Let me know if you need any suggestion or strategy to improve students math skills
Excellent letter. If refusing to meet with, or even answer, concerns of people like Dr. Tran-Davies and Dr. Bowman is indicative of the move to assurance over accountability, then I don’t think that there’s much in it for the parents and children of this province. Keep up the good work.
If a passing grade was 50 or 55%, then, what you are really saying is that you are comfortable with students not knowing 45-50% of the curriculum. Anytime we look to university professors for pedagogical leadership we fail. While brilliant, most professors run extremely poor learning environments and fail miserably when it comes to differentiated instruction, assistive technology, and, often, simple marking protocol. If the purpose of education is to have everyone attend and pass university courses, fine, ask professors what they require. However, the vast majority of students don’t go to university. Education provides a lot more than memorization skills to satisfy math prof protocols.