Stu McColl Proposes the Calculator Law to Sequim School Board July 2007 - You read it here 1st !!!! :

 

>>>>> CALCULATOR LAW PRESENTATION <<<<<

 

Sequim School District

July 2007

 

Introduction:  The majority of Sequim School District Elementary School Graduates have not committed the 12 X 12 multiplication tables to memory.  The majority of 10^th grade Sequim School District High School students have not passed the math WASL.  Of course, the value of Sequim Real Estate is effected by the Sequim School District failing math program, and that's why the Real Estate industry tries, rather ineffectively, to keep an eye on the school district with financial support and other methods.

 Outline and Intent: This law will ban use of calculators in elementary school with the intent of improving math proficiency at the elementary level and therefore making Middle and High School level math instruction more relevant to advanced topics by offering up better prepared basic math skilled students.

The Law in Elementary Schools in the Sequim School District Will Be:

"No elementary student will use a calculator on school property at any time.  The Superintendent of the School District will be held directly responsible for carrying out this law."

Statement of Fact: No one has ever taken the position that placing a calculator in the hands of a Sequim elementary school student empowers the student.  Everyone agrees that elementary school kids need to learn, memorize, and/or work with arithmetic and multiplication tables.  Everyone agrees that allowing elementary level students to use calculators in lieu of arithmetic and multiplication table memorization or direct mental computation effort, probably does the student long term academic damage.  Should any school board member chose to challenge this “Statement of Fact” please do so publicly and in writing.

>>>>> End of Calculator Law Presentation <<<<<

The Sequim School Board is will not endorse, debate, or comment on this Calculator Law issue.   The Sequim School Board appears to accept the fact that a majority of Sequim High School Students to not pass the Math WASL test for math proficiency.

I think the Sequim School Board can do better - Stu McColl