Moose Jaw Forum

http://wisemath.org/mission-statement/

Finally someone is taking the initiative to try and improve K-12 mathematics education and it is being done right here in western Canada! After all it is not that difficult to see that a major improvement is needed, is it?

Maybe I will some day have a store clerk be able to give change again without refering to mechanical aid. LOL

This is good. I hope they extend the concept beyond mathematics though. Teaching English or Physics from a textbook that the teacher doesn't really understand is truly pointless as well.

Strange, how the education system uses/has used all types cute "clichés" like quality education to justify getting more tax dollars when all these subjects used to be taught, many years ago, to higher standards than we now have!! Perhaps "pathetic" is a better term - one step forward and three steps back!

jty wrote:http://wisemath.org/mission-statement/

Finally someone is taking the initiative to try and improve K-12 mathematics education and it is being done right here in western Canada! After all it is not that difficult to see that a major improvement is needed, is it?

The key to teaching math is getting a teacher that knows how to TEACH math, lots of teachers know math, but have no idea how to teach the subject, it is a very special skill and very few teachers have that knowledge, find a teacher who actually knows how to teach math and compare their marks with a teacher who knows math but cannot reach the children.

willardhotel wrote:The key to teaching math is getting a teacher that knows how to TEACH math, lots of teachers know math, but have no idea how to teach the subject, it is a very special skill and very few teachers have that knowledge, find a teacher who actually knows how to teach math and compare their marks with a teacher who knows math but cannot reach the children.

Absolutely. And teachers in the school system are not paid a dime more to teach math, versus teaching other non-science subjects.

To add insult to injury, teachers who studied 'hard' subjects in school as undergrads, such as physics, engineering, math, computer science, biology, prior to going into teachers college -- start at the same 'step' as an entry-level teacher who might be teaching Kindergarden as a 21-year-old new education grad. You can thank the STF for that one.

suki wrote:To add insult to injury, teachers who studied 'hard' subjects in school as undergrads, such as physics, engineering, math, computer science, biology, prior to going into teachers college -- start at the same 'step' as an entry-level teacher who might be teaching Kindergarden as a 21-year-old new education grad. You can thank the STF for that one.

Sooooooooooooo, are you saying that kindergarden teachers are less qualified than other teachers?

suki wrote:To add insult to injury, teachers who studied 'hard' subjects in school as undergrads, such as physics, engineering, math, computer science, biology, prior to going into teachers college -- start at the same 'step' as an entry-level teacher who might be teaching Kindergarden as a 21-year-old new education grad. You can thank the STF for that one.

So, if I have a degree in biology and then I get an education degree, I get paid the same as the kindergarden teacher with an education degree?

old fart in training wrote:

suki wrote:To add insult to injury, teachers who studied 'hard' subjects in school as undergrads, such as physics, engineering, math, computer science, biology, prior to going into teachers college -- start at the same 'step' as an entry-level teacher who might be teaching Kindergarden as a 21-year-old new education grad. You can thank the STF for that one.

So, if I have a degree in biology and then I get an education degree, I get paid the same as the kindergarden teacher with an education degree?

No, you'll be at a slightly higher level than just the B.Ed-only graduate, but your actual salary may very well be less because you'll be at "Step 1" on the salary grid, while the B.Ed-only graduate may very well be at the Step 5 rate.

So, a teacher with no experience and two degrees should get paid more than a teacher with 20 years experience?

Does that mean a P.E. fresh out of school should get paid more than one with 20 years experience?

old fart in training wrote:So, a teacher with no experience and two degrees should get paid more than a teacher with 20 years experience?

If the skill of mathematics education is needed, sure. We expect the same level of quality and professionalism out of a 1st year teacher as we do out of a 20 year teacher. Why a big difference in pay based on how old they are/how long they've been in the workforce?

Does that mean a P.E. fresh out of school should get paid more than one with 20 years experience?

Depends if the experience is relevant or not. K+S is staffing up right now; some engineering disciplines they probably get 100 resumes. Others, such as ones that have backgrounds relevant to potash processing, they've had to go out and use a headhunting firm. Obviously some P.E.'s are more common than other