Math education remains rigorous

Re: New math curriculum should get failing grade, Opinion, Sept. 9

In all subject areas, including math, teachers use a variety of teaching strategies with their students. The three opinion pieces by Tara Houle published by The Sun over the past year, including the one last week, assumes an allor-nothing approach to the teaching of math that simply doesn’t exist.

Houle’s description of how math is being taught doesn’t reflect the day-to-day reality of teaching in B.C. classrooms. We use many pedagogical approaches, within the limitations of teaching and learning conditions, to best meet the needs of every student. They don’t all learn the same way, and Houle seems to ignore that.

In her series of opinion pieces, Houle repeatedly mixes up curriculum with teaching strategies. They are two very different things. The province sets the curriculum for all K-12 students, while individual teachers at the school level determine how the curriculum will be taught.

The revised math curriculum continues to be rigorous and remains focused on basic skills. However, it will now expand on how to apply those basic skills to real-life situations. That’s a good thing. The fear that somehow students won’t learn the basics is unwarranted. Teachers will continue to use a variety of successful and age-appropriate teaching strategies with their students.

Sometimes, students do struggle in a certain subject area. That’s why additional resources like learning assistance teachers and other specialist teachers are so important. It’s those positions that keep getting cut in the era of under-funding. That’s why the BCTF, parent groups, and others continue to advocate for increased funding to ensure students can get more one-on-one time and small group support when they need it. Glen Hansman, BCTF president