Rainforest Algebra 800 pages of junk vs. 200 page japanese book that just teaches algebra. From: "B. Rice Aston" Subject: Rainforest Algebra Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 17:52:48 -0600 From: "B. Rice Aston" < Subject: Rainforest Algebra FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, January 26,1998 CONTACT: B. RICE ASTON, 713-850-7186 VOICE 713-621-9312 FAX. EMAIL: bra@hal-pc.org RAIN FOREST ALGEBRA COMING TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT NEAR YOU HOUSTON, TX. A sharply divided State Board of Education has adopted an Algebra textbook that is well designed to preserve the low performing status of Texas 8th grade algebra students. Addison Wesley's Secondary Math: An Integrated Approach. Focus on Algebra ("Focus on Algebra") has been jestingly nicknamed Rain Forest Algebra because of its disdain for traditional math and its over emphasis on non-math subject like the environment, hostility to energy companies, chili recipes, myths of West African cave dwellers, and marginal poetry. The book is over 830 pages long. A book on the same subject in Japan, sans the sociopolitical rubble, is only 200 pages long, and not surprisingly Japanese students do far better on 8th algebra exams than U.S. students. Focus on Algebra is available to Texas school districts, thanks in part. to some members of the State Board of Education who are more concerned with sociopolitical indoctrination and self esteem than with education. Focus on Algebra has been panned throughout the U.S. A few of its critics are: Mathematically Correct, a California web site for better math, Education Reporter, National Monitor of Education, John Leo at US News and World Report, Marianne Jennings, a professor at Arizona State University, Richard Askey, a professor of Math at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and US. Senator Robert Byrd, D- W VA. Senator Byrd went out of his way to make a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate to disclose the low quality of this book and the harm it can cause. He said: leftLet me quote from that opening page. 'In the twenty-first century, computers will do a lot of the work that people used to do. Even in today's workplace, there is little need for someone to add up daily invoices or compute sales tax. Engineers and scientists already use computer programs to do calculations and solve equations.' "What kind of a message is sent by that brilliant opening salvo? It hardly impresses upon the student the importance of mastering the basics of mathematics or encourages them to dig in and prepare for the difficult work it takes to be a first-rate student in math. Rather it seems to say, 'Don't worry about all of this math stuff too much. Computers will do all that work for us in a few years anyway.' Can you imagine such a goofy passage in a Japanese math textbook? I ask what happens if the computer breaks down or if we forget and leave the pocket calculator at home? It appears that we may be on the verge of producing a generation of students who cannot do a simple mathematical equation in their heads, or with a pencil, or even balance a checkbook. "It is not just nonsense, it is unfocused nonsense, which is even worse. Mathematics is about rules, memorized procedures and methodical thinking. ..Another useful purpose has been served by my personal perusal of this textbook. I now have a partial answer to my question about why we don't produce better students despite all the money that Federal taxpayers shell out. Ms. Marianne Jennings, a professor at Arizona State University, whose daughter used the book, didn't like it either, for she wrote: leftThey learn that fossil fuels are The Devil's handiwork. They discuss toxins in the environment. They read Maya Angelou's poetry. They write essays on why parallel sentence structure is similar to parallel lines…"..chili recopies, the roles that zoos play in our society, myths of the Dogon cliff dwellers in Central Africa. It's a two Tylenol headache to find your homework assignment amid all the rubble ---which ultimately fills 812 pages…In Japan a good math book for students of the same age has about 200 pages. Yet Japanese students regularly outperform their American counterparts (3d in the industrialized world in 8th grad math vs. 28th)..I share mathematics Professors Richard Askey's (Math Department of University of Wisconsin) low opinion of this book. The Textbook Selection Committee of each local school district is now selecting algebra textbooks that will be used far in the future. The committee members would be well advised to consider the problems with Focus on Algebra raised by Senator Byrd and others when it selects an algebra textbook. The child whose algebra education is affected, may be yours. B. Rice Aston Texas Education Newsletter Full texts of the above may be found at: Senator Byrds' full speech is at http://www.intres.com/math/byrd.htm John Leo's comments in US News and World Report may be found at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mathman/johnleo.htm. . Marianne Jennings full comments may be found http://www.csulb.edu/~ttl/math41.htm Mathematically Correct web site is http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mathman/index.htm Professors Askey's comments are at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mathman/aw.htm Alternatively, an email copy may be obtained by sending request and identifying article desired to bra@hal-pc.org <<<<<<<< EDUCATION CONSUMERS CLEARINGHOUSE