Math program doesn’t compute

A recent Spokesman-Review editorial (June 18) identified the problem District 81 is having with students learning mathematics. I can attest with firsthand knowledge that the quality of the District 81 math program has been on a steady decline for the last 10 years.

Last fall I evaluated the texts for grades 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The texts for grades 8, 9 and 10 were written by a committee of 12 persons and the result is what one might expect.

There is no formal beginning algebra that will lead to being able to succeed in the grade 11 and 12 books. The latter two books are very solid traditional math texts.

It is my contention that students will not be exposed to material that will allow them to succeed at those levels.

I recently presented a five-page dissertation to the board explaining the situation, and I presume that I have again been ignored. I requested that Eastern, Gonzaga and WSU math departments be sent copies of all grade level texts being used and evaluated.

Why has this request again been ignored?

Gene Sivertson

Retired chairman,

Lewis and Clark High School math department

Spokane