Judy Ahrens Says There Is Need for Traditional Math in Classrooms
Westminster trustees invited to gay-lesbian seminar for schools.
Over 54% of freshman entering Cal State Fulerton are required to take remedial math classes (elementary school) their first year. "This dismal fact definitely seems to indicate that we need to restore the rigorous math curriculum we once had back to the classrooms. Public schools need to get back to focusing on the basic computation skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in the early elementary grades," Judy Ahrens, a candidate for Westminster School Board told the Herald in an interview.
"Unfortunately too many school districts have adopted and have been using for a number of years a curriculum characterized as "whole math" or "new math." The "new math" curriculum is called Mathland. These textbooks and teacher guides put considerable emphasis on group activities, more on process instead of correct answers, and less emphasis on drills and memorization (such as multiplication tables). For example, the inside cover of Arithmetwists (first grade workbook by Mathland) suggests that the student may use a calculator to help solve the problem. Students being educated through this type of math program are becoming dependent on the use of calculators and struggle to grasp the basic concepts that should be automatic.
"Due to the many problems with Mathland resulting in low performance by students as evidenced in the Stanford 9 test scores, Westminster Trustees recently adopted a supplement math textbook. This textbook called "Math Advantage" might also prove to be questionable. Why? Because the advisors listed in this new text include Anne R. Biggins, a Speech-Language Pathologist, and Carolyn Gambrel, a Learning Disabilities Teacher. These two "math advisors" might lead one to believe that Westminster's educational standards are not adding up to what our kids truly need- traditional math back in the classroom," Ahrens said.
Judy said that she, if elected, will try to block the far-left agenda of the gay and lesbian community from getting a foothold in Westminster schools. Westminster board members are slated to attend a California School Board Administrators convention to be held in Long Beach, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 of this year. Part of the agenda is the "Gay and Lesbian Inclusive Curriculum" that the Gays plan to bring into local schools. This clinic is set for Dec. 1, 3:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Another of the critical conferences being promoted at the convention is the topic- "Meeting the Needs of Gay and Lesbian Members of the Education Community," Dec. 1, 10:15 to 11:30 a.m., an over view addressing the needs of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender students, staff, and parents.
Mrs. Ahrens may have temporarily stopped an action by the trustees to revoke it's powers- "The Governing Board's primary goal is to provide each student with an education of the highest quality in keeping with his/her capacity to learn." Ahrens said if the board approved this historic responsibility, she would bring the matter to light at a City Council meeting where she could get the matter televised. There was no action.
The alternative, the board would have voted to approve, read- "The Governing Board is elected by the community to provide leadership and citizen oversight of the district's schools." The trustees would have given its powers over to an unelected official, the Superintendent.
From viewing the candidates at their public forum, the Hearld found Judy Ahrens the most knowledgeable about school affairs while other candidates appeared to like the status quo, even to finding nothing alarming about the way math and reading is being taught. We recommend our vote to Mrs. Ahrens for one of the two seats open. To her the status quo is not an option. Outgoing trustee, Lynn Covey 2-yrs. ago, said, "Westminster 8th grade students are 2-yrs. behind in their studies.
We would like to point out that in the 1996 election, the sum $12,006.05 (availability at the county Registrar's office was given to one candidate and since three had the endorsement, it is reasonable that all three were given like or similar amounts. About one-fourth of that amount has been given this year since the union is committed to defeating Vouchers.
Orange County News
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
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