"Here is the First Way I Solved the Problem, Second, Third..."

When helping my students with their math homework, there are two words that make me cringe. Turk Method. What is the Turk Method? It is a method of math that focuses more on mental math and different methods to solve problems. In theory, it is supposed to help the students who can not solve math problems in the classic algorithm way.

Personally I think the method is useless. Why? The classic algorithm is the method that parents have been taught. Turk math is a recent development in the math world, and because of this parents do not know how to use the Turk method to help their child. Along with this, Turk math uses "partial" math a lot to solve problems. In my experience with students it is difficult to keep track of the numbers and they end up getting the wrong answer. Along with that, there are so many different ways to solve the problems that the students use maybe three different ways to solve one problem on the first try.

Really. I feel like the following video will help to describe the many levels of confusion this method can cause.

Testify Lombardi!

Photo from The Advocate by: Travis Spradling

In the Baton Rouge paper The Advocate, my local paper,  there was an article by Sarah Chacko about budget cuts in the public colleges and universities in Louisiana. All I have to say in reply to the comments from LSU System President John Lombardi...thank you! Finally someone with common sense in this state!


As much as I love Louisiana for its culture, people, and life, I can't stand the policy making. Due to a failing economy, the state has to look over the budget. What is the first thing to go all the time? Education. The budgets cuts are looking to be about 1 billion with $146 million of that being taken away from the public universities and colleges of Louisiana. 

"Lombardi said university officials, rather than legislators, should control the decisions made by the institutions."

Yes! You would think this would be a given fact? No folks. It never is. This is following a history in Louisiana. As in the 70s when the United States witnessed increased gas prices and a failing economy, education was cut in Louisiana. At that time, Louisiana State University was emerging as a high class university. The budget cuts killed it and only recently has it emerged back to enter into the list of tops schools in the US News. Currently it shares the spot for 128. 


He also mentions that students CAN afford tuition at LSU. TOPS is a scholarship offered to all students in Louisiana who qualify. He argues that students should still get TOPS, but rather it should be a fixed amount and students pay for the rest. This way it can curb the cuts on the university. 


The other point I love is this. 

"Academics have to be given the same financial supports as athletics at LSU, he said.

Nobody suggests paying LSU football coach Les Miles less or employing second-rate coaches or cheap facilities, he said.

'The price goes up for quality,' Lombardi said. 'We all pay more for tickets and complain … and moan. And then they show up.'

Exactly! I don't think I have ever seen any cuts in the football program. The day when the philosophy department is getting some cash and football at least has a stall in funds is the day I think I may believe in Louisiana Education policy again...However, I think my cynical outlook will be in tact for awhile. 

So What is the Deal with Charter Schools?

Recently the New York Times published an article Study Shows Better Scores for Charter School Students.
In this article the debate of charter school vs. public schools are brought up. As is noted in the article, it shows that in a study students that won the lottery and were accepted into the charter schools fared better on the New York state exam than their fellow students who entered the lottery and did not receive a seat (and in turn attended public schools).

So what is a charter school?
As defined by US Charter Schools,

"Charter schools are nonsectarian public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. The "charter" establishing each such school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success...They are accountable for both academic results and fiscal practices to several groups: the sponsor that grants them, the parents who choose them, and the public that funds them."

  

The main thing to gain is that it is a public school that operates on a different scale. This means that the charter school does not have to follow all the rules public schools do, as long as they can prove that the methods work. This means, better test scores. So some charter schools have class on the weekends and have longer school years. Also, teacher salary may be based on the performance rather than designated salary provided by the union.  

Here is a real life example for you. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston schools are required to teach math through the Turk method. This method emphasis mental math and finding "strategies" to solve math problems. Go to any public school in Massachusetts and you will see the blue and white workbooks. However, charter schools do not need to follow this rule. The Neighborhood House Charter School in Boston does not use this math method, rather working with the old school algorithm method. This is just one example of it. 

So what is the deal? Why doesn't the public sector follow the lead of the charter school? Really, it is more politics then anything. Charter schools are few in number and their policies can be altered. To change a whole entire state's education system would have to deal with weeks of teacher training and policy reform. In the end, it is easier to leave things as is. Of course this isn't always the case... 

So why education?

Hello and welcome to 'Reworking the Education System.' This blog is dedicated to taking a critical look at United States education policy from Pre-K to continuing education programs for adults. It will look at reports from the United States and attempt to answer (or look into) the drop out crisis and education reform that is happening in the United States, and even the rest of the world. So don't be surprised if you see some information about education in other countries. The United States is not an entity by itself. Many students are immigrants to the United States and knowing their background in education gives a glimpse into why the current system is failing or progressing.

And why education?As the blogger here, I personally believe that education will determine the future of individuals. All persons have the right to basic education, which includes basic math skills, reading, and writing. Yes, there are technical jobs, but having at least a high school diploma will almost guarantee in today's economy that you will progress in your job through promotions rather than stay at a consistent salary. If anything, the education system in the United States is failing its citizens, both new and old. I will take my personal experiences from working in urban public schools and government assisted after school programs as a means to help me in my analysis. However, it will not just be about personal stories, but also the policy. If anything, I hope that my stories will make the policies come alive and give the reader an idea of what things like No Child Left Behind means for a student that in all eyes is "left behind."

So stay tuned and keep a look out.