{"id":1090403,"date":"2021-12-06T15:13:59","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T20:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1090403"},"modified":"2021-12-06T15:14:02","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T20:14:02","slug":"top-american-scientists-voice-alarm-at-woke-california-math-curriculum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-american-scientists-voice-alarm-at-woke-california-math-curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Top American Scientists Voice \u2018Alarm\u2019 at Woke California Math Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftop-american-scientists-voice-alarm-at-woke-california-math-curriculum%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1090403&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/pexels-max-fischer-stock-math-classroom-640x335-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">Hundreds of America\u2019s top scientists and mathematicians have released an open letter in which they express \u201calarm\u201d at the likely disastrous consequences of woke K-12 math curricula such as the \u201cEquitable Math\u2019 framework proposed in California.<\/p>\n<p>To date, nearly 600 of the nation\u2019s top quantitative scientists have signed onto the open <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/view\/k12mathmatters\/home\">letter<\/a> that specifically voices \u201cdeep concern\u201d about California\u2019s \u201cequitable math\u201d framework, one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/04\/15\/california-weighs-equitable-math-goal-obtaining-correct-answer-racist\/\">promotes<\/a> the concept that working to figure out a correct answer is an example of racism and white supremacy invading the classroom.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>The scientists write:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"10\">\n[W]e are deeply concerned about the unintended consequences of recent well-intentioned approaches to reform mathematics education, particularly the California Mathematics Framework (CMF). Such frameworks aim to reduce achievement gaps by limiting the availability of advanced mathematical courses to middle schoolers and beginning high schoolers. While such reforms superficially seem \u201csuccessful\u201d at reducing disparities at the high school level, they are merely \u201ckicking the can\u201d to college.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cSuch a reform would disadvantage K-12 public school students in the United States compared with their international and private-school peers,\u201d the scientists explain. \u201cIt may lead to a de facto privatization of advanced mathematics K-12 education and disproportionately harm students with fewer resources.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"10.192307692308\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Dr. Peggy Carr, Associate Commissioner, notes that the lowest performing students\u2013those readers who struggle the most\u2013have made no progress in reading since the first assessment almost 30 years ago. Learn more: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EWajchXvIH\">https:\/\/t.co\/EWajchXvIH<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NAEPDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NAEPDay<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9zanK5fPmv\">pic.twitter.com\/9zanK5fPmv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NAEP, The Nation&#8217;s Report Card (@NAEP_NCES) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NAEP_NCES\/status\/1189611197257125888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 30, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>The scientists who signed the open letter, many of whom are STEM professionals and math educators, assert they \u201cwholeheartedly\u201d reject another \u201cdeeply worrisome trend\u201d of \u201cdevaluing essential mathematical tools such as calculus and algebra in favor of seemingly more modern \u2018data science.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe ability to gather and analyze massive amounts of data is indeed transforming our society,\u201d they continue, adding:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"13\">\n<p>But \u201cdata science\u201d \u2013 computer science, statistics, and artificial intelligence- is built on the foundations of algebra, calculus, and logical thinking. While these mathematical fields are centuries old and sometimes more, they are arguably even more critical for today\u2019s grand challenges than in the Sputnik era.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The U.S. scientists state they are calling upon \u201cnational, state, and local governments to involve college-level STEM educators and STEM professionals in the design of K-12 mathematics and science education curriculum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among their goals is to ensure \u201call students, regardless of background, have access to a math curriculum with precision and rigor,\u201d and eliminate a \u201cone size fits all\u201d approach to K-12 mathematical education.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the scientists urge students be offered \u201cmultiple pathways and timelines to explore mathematics,\u201d they insist one such pathway \u201cshould be the option to obtain the fundamental preparation for college-level STEM, including algebra, calculus, and logical reasoning.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cStudents should have the opportunity to take those classes at varying grade levels of middle and high school when they are ready, so that they acquire the tools to explore other STEM options and can build their proficiency in a balanced pacing, avoiding irresponsible compression late in high school,\u201d they assert.<\/p>\n<p>The mathematicians and scientists stress that initiatives such as California\u2019s \u201cEquitable Math\u201d \u201cpropose drastic changes based on scant and inconclusive evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cReducing access to advanced mathematics and elevating trendy but shallow courses over foundational skills would cause lasting damage to STEM education in the country and exacerbate inequality by diminishing access to the skills needed for social mobility,\u201d they observe, adding that \u201c[s]ubjecting the children of our largest state to such an experiment is the height of irresponsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"5.126213592233\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Advanced math is now racist.  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/unJqwrU1oY\">https:\/\/t.co\/unJqwrU1oY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BreitbartNews\/status\/1386122478452449280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 25, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Three of the letter\u2019s signers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/education\/2021\/09\/06\/mathematicians-china-rises-as-worlds-stem-leader-while-american-schools-place-diversity-first\/\">wrote<\/a> a column at Quillette in August warning about the \u201cdeplorable\u201d state of K-12 math education in the United States as public schools prioritize woke social justice policies over scholarship.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Percy Deift, of New York University, Svetlana Jitomirskaya, of University of California, Irvine, and Sergiu Klainerman, of Princeton University \u2013 all scholars who arrived in the United States as young immigrants \u2013 wrote America is quickly losing its \u201cdominant position\u201d in the mathematical sciences.<\/p>\n<p>Keeping in mind China\u2019s \u201cstatus as an authoritarian country,\u201d the mathematicians warned Americans:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"7\">\n<p>The drawbacks of American education policies are so pronounced that US schools are now losing their ability to attract elite scholars&nbsp;despite&nbsp;the fact that the United States offers these academics a freer and more democratic environment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIn our field, mathematics, we find that at most top departments in the United States, at least two-thirds of the faculty are foreign born,\u201d the scholars wrote. \u201cSimilar patterns may be observed in other STEM disciplines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The authors specifically called out the current trend of focusing on social justice and diversity in K-12 schools, as one that \u201chas had the unfortunate effect of weakening the connection between merit and scholastic admission\u201d:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"13\">\n<p>The social-justice rhetoric used to justify these diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs is often completely at odds with the reality one observes on campuses. The concept of fighting \u201cwhite supremacy,\u201d in particular, doesn\u2019t apply to the math field, since American-born scholars of all races now collectively represent a small (and diminishing) minority of the country\u2019s academic STEM specialists.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"7.4140969162996\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Three math scholars warn China is successfully rising as the world\u2019s STEM leader while U.S. schools prioritize woke social justice and &#8220;diversity.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wsSMqUiwQQ\">https:\/\/t.co\/wsSMqUiwQQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BreitbartNews\/status\/1435392082676490241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 7, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Pointing to the California revised Mathematics Framework, the math scholars wrote the plan could \u201cdo away with any tracking or differentiation of students up to the 11<sup>th<\/sup> grade\u201d:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"10.47619047619\">\n<p>In order to achieve what the authors call \u201cequity\u201d in math education, the framework would&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.piratewires.com\/p\/the-two-front-war-on-academic-standards\">effectively close<\/a>&nbsp;the main pathway to calculus in high school to all students except those who take extra math outside school\u2014which, in practice, means students from families that can afford enrichment programs (or those going to charter and private schools).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"5.2336448598131\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Common Core has been a disaster. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nmWkNSOuhF\">https:\/\/t.co\/nmWkNSOuhF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BreitbartNews\/status\/1254979928031985664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 28, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201c[A]t many of our leading academic and research institutions, including the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2021\/04\/us-national-academy-picks-record-number-women-minorities\">National Academies of Sciences<\/a>, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amacad.org\/\">American Academy of Arts and Sciences<\/a>, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/\">National Science Foundation<\/a>, and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/the-nihs-diversity-obsession-subverts-science-11625090811\">National Institutes of Health<\/a>, scientific excellence is being supplanted by diversity as the determining factor for eligibility in regard to prizes and other distinctions,\u201d they continued.<\/p>\n<p>Observing the \u201cconstant stream of ill-advised and dumbed-down \u2018reforms\u2019\u201d that have pervaded American public schools, the math scholars described them as having \u201cserved to degrade the teaching of mathematics to such an extent that it has become difficult to distinguish a student who is capable from one who is not.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hundreds of America\u2019s top scientists and mathematicians have released an open letter in which they express \u201calarm\u201d at the likely disastrous consequences of woke K-12 math curricula such as the 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