Hot off the presses! The Washington Post has just put up on its website a profile of Montgomery Blair High School math teacher, Eric Walstein which will appear in Sunday’s Post Magazine: “Fast Learners: Montgomery County officials say accelerating students in math will better prepare them for college, but a revered teacher says it’s time to step on the brakes.” I blogged about the reporter’s query a week or so ago (and have done many blogs on math and math acceleration…check the tags in the right sidebar). As the article notes:
Walstein isn’t just any math teacher — he’s arguably the most highly regarded high school math teacher in the county. He was hired by Blair’s math and science magnet in 1986, when the program was just a year old, after teaching for 12 years at two top county middle schools and at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac. He has been coaching the county math team since its inception more than 30 years ago, and, under Walstein’s leadership, students have turned in some stunning performances in events such as the Math Olympiad (the test to choose who would be on the equivalent of the national Olympic team for mathematics) and the American Mathematics Competitions. He’s also a three-time winner of a national award for distinguished high school mathematics teaching, and his former students include some of the more highly regarded mathematicians of their generation, such as MIT’s Jacob Lurie and Jordan Ellenberg of the University of Wisconsin.
It’s more than a profile, though. At its heart, it’s a condemnation of math education and mandated acceleration in Montgomery County, MD.
Here’s an excerpt:
The curriculum is being “narrowed and shallowed,” Walstein said. “The philosophy is that they squeeze you out the top like a tube of toothpaste. That’s what Montgomery County math is.”
Several students nodded their heads. This thesis has become Walstein’s obsession: In its drive to be the best, please affluent parents and close the achievement gap on standardized tests, the county is accelerating too many students in math, at the expense of the curriculum — and the students. The average accelerated math student “thinks he’s fine. His parents think he’s fine. The school system says he’s fine. But he’s not fine!” Walstein declares on one occasion. On another, Walstein is even less diplomatic. ” ‘We have the best courses and there’s no achievement gap and everything is wonderful,’ ” he says, parroting the message he believes county administrators are trying to project.
“The problem is, they’re lying
Read it. What do you think?
I strongly suspect Walstein is right and it has me very worried. Eldest child lost out by skipping Math A and IM; now youngest daughter is headed down a similar path. The gaps are apparent even in a HG child who’s ability demands acceleration. We’re saving our pennies for EPGY. I dunno where else to turn. Thanks for posting this.
Glad to give an early heads up to those interested in this topic. Would your child do EPGY in addition to school?
I have to say I’m worried too, but not sure what to do. L. was “downgraded” at the end of 4th grade, so while her compatriots in 5th were doing 7th grade math this year, she was “merely” doing 6th (I’ve posted on this). So it looks like she’s headed for the scenic route for middle school math. Which is fine.
And she did fine grade-wise this year. But when I looked closely at the assessment summary that came home at the end of the year, there’s a lot of “emerging understanding.” Hmm. So how well is she even getting things on this “slower but still advanced so of course there are no issues” track? I could try supplementing at home, but thing is, if I told her, honey, I’m worried about your math achievement, she’d blow a gasket…because as far as she knows, she’s doing just “fine.” She would ask if I was implying that she’s… “dumb.” So, supplementing is a very sore topic here in this house.
Yes, in addition to school. I’m not sure she’s motivated to do EPGY though. She doesn’t display the driven-to-excel persona of her older sibling–our first born who is the poster GT child. Still, she’s fully capable and I worry won’t ever get interested in math to the degree her ability suggests she could be.
The scenic route might be a good thing. Your daughter might be better prepared in the long run. Who knows? I may lobby for it, especially if we’re able to sign up for EPGY.