From Deseret News archives:
Alpine defends math classes
Barry Graff, a top Alpine administrator, sent an e-mail invitation to Stephenson, who represents northern Utah County, where the district educates children, and requested the senator hear the district's side of the math debate.
"I know that you are very busy in the current session of the Legislature, but we would relish the opportunity to share some facts with you that we doubt some of the critics have shared with you," Graff wrote to Stephenson on Monday.
Stephenson said he'll probably take the district up on the offer, but it's not the first time they've talked about the district's controversial math programs, which favor a search-and-learn approach over rote memorization of algorithms.
"A few years ago, when this issue first came up and Rep. (Dave) Cox (R-Lehi) brought it (up), I connected with the district at the time," Stephenson said. "They invited me to visit a school and watch 'investigations math' being taught."
Stephenson called the program "interesting . . . but what matters is how students perform based on the instruction and the curriculum," he said. "And that's what I'm concerned about," he said.
In an Education Appropriations Subcommittee last Thursday, Stephenson proposed language for the state education budget that would have restricted Alpine's math programs. Instead, the subcommittee voted to study Alpine's math classes.
Alpine district officials did not attend the subcommittee meeting. District chiefs did not know its math programs were under scrutiny by lawmakers until notified by the news media, Graff said.
Standardized tests show Alpine's students score higher than the state average in math, Graff said.
"We believe that anyone would be very hard-pressed to describe our results as a failure," Graff said in his letter to Stephenson.
In 2001 Alpine introduced the program called "Investigations of Space and Data" in elementary schools and "Connected Math" in middle schools. The district has recently encouraged teachers to blend traditional math with the programs.
"Thousands of parents are supplementing their children's math education at home, and the school district is taking credit for it," said Oak Norton, a parent who testified at last week's subcommittee meeting. He spoke against the programs.
Comments
- Sports on the air 1:21 a.m.
- 2009 MLS Cup recap 12:45 a.m.
- MLS Cup winners, MVPs 12:41 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 12:36 a.m.
- Paper circulation worse than it looks 12:28 a.m.
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks 12:22 a.m.
- Editorial: Cancer screening 12:15 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:15 a.m.
- Treat teachers with respect, trust 12:15 a.m.
- 'Reform' helps old, hurts young 12:15 a.m.
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Man dies after being run over
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
202 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
191 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
130 - BYU records with win
129 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
That game was amazing! I think this will really help the sport grow in Utah....
Congrats on a great win. Utah as a whole should be proud not just of a major...
Congrats Real Salt Lake! but, they aren't the first major sports team to...
I told ALL of you how much i liked NED Pure irony his contributions vs x...
this is to NevadaUTE @ 10:25!!! I love soccer, I love Real and it brought a...
wow!!! amazing. UTAH JAZZ DO SOMETHING!!!
So much fear and anger from Beck lovers. You all lost the last election, we...
This is the most emotion I have had watching a sporting event since my...
Nicky Rimando is my hero! I love that guy. He has had his detractors, but...
Two stars means nothing! We played as a team and it showed! I'm still in...


You can be the first to comment on this story.