More on California's Recently Adopted Math Framework

Anyone who truly wants traditionally-underperforming students to succeed, and doesn't really want them to fail for their own political benefit, knows that the ideas contained in the new framework are a disaster, and it's not just those of us on the political right saying so:

Despite collapsing math scores, the California Board of Education voted to adopt a new "equity'" and "social justice" focused math education framework that education experts from across the political spectrum warn will increase achievement gaps and decrease learning among lower income and minority students.

Two out of three California students now fail to meet basic state math standards set in 2013. California spends over $20,000 per K-12 student, placing it among the top states for per-pupil spending even though its students rank 30th in math, according to national math SAT scores from the College Board.

Citing these differences, the framework focuses on three main changes to improve "equitable" math outcomes: "an assets-based approach to instruction; active student engagement through investigation and connection; and instruction that centers cultural and personal relevance, reflecting California's diverse students." 

As I've stated before on this blog about so-called personal relevance:

According to one Kieran Egan, “Bertrand Russell, after his first disastrous experiment in organizing a school, observed that the first task of education is to destroy the tyranny of the local and immediate over the child’s imagination."

Russell is correct. The purpose of education is to get a child to see what's beyond his own nose.  

But let's continue with the linked article:

Additionally, the framework concluded that "five important components of classroom instruction that can meet the needs of students who are diverse in so many ways: 1) plan teaching around big ideas; 2) use open, engaging tasks; 3) teach towards social justice; 4) invite student questions and conjectures; 5) prioritize reasoning and justification." 

I'll be happy to "teach towards social justice", but I doubt what I teach would be what the framework's authors and promoters would want. 

I'll be blunt.  As Instapundit has said many times:  If they can't give you good government, they'll give you "woke" government.  I'll add to that:  If they can't give you good education, they'll give you "woke" education.  And that's exactly what California is dishing up here.