READING, MASS.
"Reading's math performance was in the 80 percentiles in the years
1993-1995. A downward trend appears in 1996 and 1997. The first
students utilizing the "Chicago Math" program were tested in 1997
with the Stanford 9. This downward trend continues in the Chicago
Math program with computational skills dipping to 67% in 1997 and
Total Math dropping to 73%. The same group of 1997 students were re-
tested in 1998 and the data shows a continuing drop in computational
skills." (Dr. Robert Mandell, Concerned Parents of Reading, 2-13-
2000 @ http://mathematicallycorrect.com/cpr.htm).
"Our parent group was interested in one outcome only, the effective
use of a program that stresses both concepts and computational
skills. It was our experience that your program [EM] as used in the
Reading Schools did not give the computational skill work � There
are over 100 Reading students being tutored in math at a nearby
learning center �" (e-mail by Dr. R. L. Mandell to Everyday Math, 11-
20-2000).
"In reality, the school administrators overruled the elementary math
selection committee who preferred another more traditional program.
An anonymous teacher survey revealed that 84% of our teachers had
reservations concerning the program. Ask for a copy of the survey
from our Administration and read for yourself the 87 surveys �
Please note that our group only asked for computational skills to be
supplemented � " (e-mail by Dr. R. L. Mandell, 2002)
See web site of Concerned Parents of Reading
@http://members.aol.com/rlmandell/CPR/ start.html
* * *
"A battle over math that began in Reading five years ago still
simmers � Reading School Committee member John F. Russo, citing test
results and a belief that "computational skills should not be
sacrificed," wants a review of the math program." ("Old School
Arithmetic Returns to Classroom," Boston Globe, 4-7-2002 & web
posting on Math Forum by Dr. Wayne Bishop, 4-7-2002; access via
http://www.mathforum.org/epi�/5.1.0.14.2.
20020407083043.0392d0@exchange.calstatela.ed).
here.
