Weekly Math Updates

November 13, 2007

Contents:

• Action Needed on Investigations Math in ASD
• Education Sub-Committee Actions (Great news)
• Stupid in America
• An ASD Teacher Emails Me
• Global Warming Hoax-Non-math

Action Needed on Investigations Math in ASD

Last month at the legislative interim meeting, Patti Harrington reiterated to the education sub-committee that Investigations math may not be used as a primary curriculum in any school in Utah. Last year during curriculum selection, several ASD schools (3-4 I believe) voted to use Investigations math as their primary program. Upon my request, Patti Harrington had Brenda Hale contact ASD to let them know these schools were not allowed to use Investigations math as their primary program. Brenda has contacted the district but it appears they have not taken any action. Will you please email your board member and find out when those schools will be taken off Investigations and put on something else? Here's a link to get the board members email addresses:

http://www.alpine.k12.ut.us/phpApps/genericPage.php?pdid=676

Also, if you know which schools are on Investigations, please let me know and then contact the principal of those schools and point them to my home page or this direct link:

http://www.oaknorton.com/mathupdates/20071020.cfm

Education Sub-Committee Actions

This link will direct you to the text of several items discussed at the education sub-committee meeting today. The one of primary concern for us passed with strong bi-partisan support and will now go to the full legislature when they go into session. Read the text at the link below. It's everything we want to see happen in Utah as long as the committee heads in the right direction. There are also home, charter, and online school amendments that passed that will let children in those environments participate in athletics that their schools lack.

http://www.le.utah.gov/asp/interim/Commit.asp?Year=2007&Com=INTEDU

Stupid in America

If you've never seen John Stossel's 20/20 piece on American education, this is a must watch video when you get a chance. Just turn it on in the background and listen or watch it at lunch or something. It's 40 minutes of great work.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pfRUMmTs0ZA

An ASD Teacher Emails Me

I got this email back in June when the poster project made the press but didn't send it out. I thought some of you would enjoy this teacher's comments though. The funny thing was she put her name in the name box on my contact form, but then signed it anonymously. I've removed her name to avoid completely embarrassing her.

So Mr. Norton, Now that your math war is over with Alpine School District, you now have to turn your attention to placing posters in every classroom stating, "In God We Trust." What??? Don't you have a job? Sir, you have way too much time on your hands!! Why don't you put more of your time, money and energy into helping less fortunate Utahns find their next meal, a place to live, etc, instead living lavishly in Highland trying to push you beliefs on others!! As a teacher myself, it IS politically INCORRECT to push "God" in every classroom. Sure, it may be our National Motto, but we also live under the Bill of Rights that guarantees FREEDOM OF RELIGION! There are students in my class that are aetheists, as well as Muslims, Buddhists, etc. THERE IS NO WAY YOU WILL FIND THAT POSTER IN MY PUBLIC EDUCATION CLASSROOM - EVER! Why are you doing this? Just for attention, something to do??? Here's an idea, why don't you start up your own private school...that way you can teach your religion there! Oh, and one last thing, just because ASD will not be "officially" adopting Investigations this year, most teachers WILL continue to use many aspects of it's program - along with MANY other supplimental math materials. (Which is how I have been teaching with Investigations all along). It's called "GOOD TEACHING" - something you wouldn't know a thing about!! Good luck to you, Mr. Norton...you're going to need it! --Concerned Parent, Teacher and Citizen

Man do I feel lucky now that I been taught the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom FROM religion and not freedom OF religion. Thank you Ms. B.

Global Warming Hoax-Non-math

John Coleman, the founder of the Weather Channel has come out of the closet on global warming with a very direct and scathing hit on Al Gore and the Global Warming movement. Here's a clip and a link:

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/comments_about_global_warming/

It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create an illusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the “research” to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus.

Sincerely,

Oak Norton

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http://www.oaknorton.com/mathpetition.cfm