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California profs slam new WOKE syllabus that scraps advanced Math: 'Height of irresponsibility'

Professors protest as the California Mathematics Framework eliminated certain courses from the curriculum, especially math-related from grades K to 12

Professors from prestigious institutes including City University of New York (CUNY), New York University (NYU), and Columbia University have signed an open letter, called K12 Math Matters, after California Mathematics Framework (CMF) eliminated certain courses from the curriculum, especially math-related from grades K to 12. The decision was taken in order to ease out achievement gaps faced by students.

Calling this "the height of irresponsibility", several professors argued against the new syllabus and stated that curtailing the advanced sections from a subject as significant as math would put American students at a global disadvantage. Despite making the overall syllabus easier, eliminating such essentials would only lead to students finding it more difficult to grasp new concepts when they haven't built a strong foundation with the basics.

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Certain advanced math courses have been slowly but surely removed in school districts including a few in New York. With the discontinuance of certain accelerated math courses, parents were reported revolting against Education Departments. In early June, due to a parent's outcry, officials at Lab Middle School, which offers Collaborative Studies in Manhattan, reinstated the honors math classes in the program, thereby taking it back to how it was originally designed. 

A similar case was witnessed at The Robert Wagner Middle School. Located on the Upper East Side, this institute had plans to follow the same footsteps that would lead to the elimination of certain "complex" math courses. Before they could even revise the curriculum, the school received an arid backlash from parents. 

Currently, this open letter has around 950 signatures from individuals from different walks of life. The math experts and professors that signed this public letter are of the opinion that elimination of such core fundamentals will only have dire consequences in the future. This resolution by the California Mathematics Framework also received some backlash on Twitter. Below are some of the opinions shared by people online.

Robert Spalding, retired United States Air Force brigadier general, says that teaching students advanced versions of core subjects will not only help them, but in turn will help the country. 

US Rep Ro Khanna expressed his views saying eliminating advanced courses doesn't just deprive students of an academic challenge but also discourages higher achievement.

Here's a view on how the elimination of these courses doesn't just affect the present generation, but decades of future generations too.

A rather hilarious warning by a parent.

A logical counter-argument

The letter says, "Such frameworks aim to reduce achievement gaps by limiting the availability of advanced mathematical courses to middle schoolers and beginning high schoolers. While such reforms superficially seem ‘successful’ at reducing disparities at the high school level, they are merely ‘kicking the can’ to college." "While the US K-12 system has much to improve, the current trends will instead take us further back," the letter states.

Disclaimer: This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.