Upcoming Events

Please ask your representatives to support H.R.5, now before Congress.
H.R.5 is designed to rein in the U.S. Department of Education and return education to state and local control.

Tutoring Program in Elementary and Middle-School Math:
Call Rae Lynn Westby at Do the Math for a free consultation: 509.325.MATH.
Do the Math is running a summer tutoring program for elementary and middle-school students.

Does your child need tutoring? Give your child a free at-grade-level assessment.


Students: Their daily reality

In all of the data, statistics, reports, studies and administrator presentations floating around, the students' reality is hard to find. The listed "Betrayed" blog articles gives you a taste of what the students deal with every single day -- day after day after day after day.


Nov. 4, 2008: Constructivism and lack of practice

Nov. 10, 2008: So Many Distractions; So Little Time

Nov. 26, 2008: Social-Promotion Policy Fails Students

Dec. 17, 2008: District view of AP at odds with universities

Jan. 9, 2009: What about the 40% who didn't pass? 

Feb. 19, 2009: Pass rates on 2008 state tests

June 24, 2009: Students learn by being taught

Nov. 29, 2009: The truth of Spokane's K-12 math program

June 24, 2010: Remedial rates: Spokane's big, dirty secret

Aug. 14, 2010: Grammar problems caused by hyper-constructivism - by Robert Archer 

Sept. 2, 2010: Pass rates on 2010 state math tests shocking

Jan. 3, 2011: "What I see" - Parent volunteer tells heartbreaking tale

May 10, 2011: Tutoring desperately needed; please help us

June 3, 2011: Who cares about Celesta? (part 1)

June 8, 2011: District blames Celesta for gaps in math skills (part 2)

June 23, 2011: District rejects community efforts to help Celesta (part 3)

September 3, 2011: Politics driving math classes -- not equity, justice ... or math

Jan. 23, 2012: Hold district accountable for deceit, academic failure, questionable activity

April 11, 2012: Has constructivism increased special education enrollment in public schools? - By Nakonia Hayes

May 14, 2012: America's math problem: What is it, why do we have it, and what will it do to America?" - Part 1 of 2 -- This student changed her mind about publishing her essay after receiving feedback from others in the city on her questions. It's too bad. I liked her essay.

Oct. 8, 2012: In defense of long division: Pro-reform professor capably shows why reform math doesn't work

Oct. 14, 2012: In defense of vertical multiplication: Reform methods stumble over decimals

Oct. 23, 2012: In defense of the number line: Reform methods for teaching negatives fail on fractions, decimals ... and negatives

Oct. 31, 2012: In defense of proper process: Reform methods lead to lost information and incorrect answers

Nov. 5, 2012: In defense of direct instruction: Constant constructivism, group work and arrogant attitudes are abusive to the children

Nov. 25, 2012: Political indoctrination replacing academics as the mission of K-12 public education

Jan. 23, 2013: Common Core leading districts to adopt unproved math programs and failed approaches

May 24, 2013: How we could fix public education, and why it won't happen

June 6, 2013: Public education's "culture of power": Small minds, thin skins, fragile egos