Math is hard, and it’s only getting tougher under the new state standards. But could it be leading to emotional distress?
Local pediatrician Jay D’Orso, who’s had four kids in the school system and sees patients as a member of Western Connecticut Health Network, thinks so. “The consequences of these math programs are an increase in Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil and an increase in therapy needs for middle school and high school students,” he told the board at its meeting Monday night.
“We should have a school system that doesn’t cause its students harm and doesn’t waste their time,” he said. “And that’s why I suggest you re-look at the math programs to see if they are developmentally appropriate and productive for our children.”
Dr. D’Orso said particularly of interest is the district’s math programs between fifth and eighth grade.
He used an example of a problem to demonstrate his point.
“Maybe you can guess what grade level this is,” he said.
“Paul has two-thirds as many postcards as Sean has and the number of postcards Sean has is three-fifths the number of postcards Tim has. If the boys have a total of 280 postcards, then how many more postcards does Tim have than Paul?” he read.
“Obviously it’s complex, but not impossible,” he told the board. “I would use a complex algebra equation to solve it and I’d guess it’s more appropriate for an eighth and ninth grade student than one still in the fifth grade.”
Dr. D’Orso noted that it was a concern he and his wife had brought forward to the board a year and a half ago.
“Unfortunately, it hasn’t gone away,” he said.
“Our concern is that these math programs are not developmentally appropriate,” he said. “I have a high level of concern for these programs.”
Going back to his example problem, he told the board that these are the types of questions children in Ridgefield are getting tested on and “being held accountable on.”
“As a bonus question, sure it’s great,” he said. “As a routine part of core learning, I think is inappropriate and should be revisited. …
“And it’s not just my opinion,” he added. “I’ve got references from outside counselors and psychologists from Westport and several school administrators from Westchester, as well as other counsel I rely on.”
Besides putting undue emotional distress on children, he said, the developmentally inappropriate programs could be negating the actual learning process.
“Frankly, I think we might wasting their time,” he said.