3 ms·

I'm interested when I see this critique, because I definitely agree with you, but I also see a strong bias against new pedagogical approaches like Common Core m

I'm interested when I see this critique, because I definitely agree with you, but I also see a strong bias against new pedagogical approaches like Common Core math that focus more on teaching concepts like numerical composability and less on memorization and recitation. Personally, as someone whose mental map of how math works lines up much more with the CC standards, I wish I had been taught that way; the memorization & recitation approach fell apart for me when I reached higher level math classes.

gumby 6y ago
Same problem happened when it was attempted in the 1960s under the name “new math”. And that’s what I mean when I say it’s a fundamental part of the educational system. At the primary school level in particular, teachers aren’t necessarily (in fact are unlikely to be) that conversant with mathematics anyway; it’s just another subject to be taught. So as long as the results are correct, all is well.