Apparently ISD 166 may not be in as dire financial straits as they have claimed. Recently the school board has been adding back items recently cut from their “bare bones” budget, along with adding new staff positions.
The school board also unanimously approved a new technology based math protocol called the “Singapore curriculum” with associated costs totaling $127,940. This did not, as one board member stated, include the cost of the new textbooks required, “So the ‘sticker shock’ for the technology is somewhat offset.”
The new protocol will require the purchase of 28 new “Chromebooks” computer tablets. The current math curriculum “Everyday Math” uses iPads supplied to students by the school district. Unable to decide which approach was best, the board approved a plan to “fuse” both curriculums. I suppose taxpayers are fortunate that a “Platinum” version is not offered, though considering how fast technology changes, another costly upgrade will likely soon be proposed.
I’m no math wizard, nor was I a particularly good student in high school. I did manage to learn enough math to serve my needs through 20 years of work in masonry construction and subsequent employment as a draftsman with an architectural firm. All the basic math, algebra and geometry I had learned was accomplished using a technological wonder called a “pencil” while using a “tablet” consisting of notebook paper… items not supplied by my school district.
The “Pencil” protocol was a very intuitive system and did not require a Technology Department to support it, only a wall-mounted sharpener. It did require you to walk to the front of the room to submit your work though, rather than to send it 20 feet using a wireless high-speed broadband connection.
You have to wonder if ISD 166 students and teachers are devoting more time in navigating expensive and ever-changing technology than they are actually learning and/or teaching mathematics.
Bob LaMettry
Grand Marais
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