The Path of Math
Perhaps no subject in Spokane Public Schools, in recent years, has been as controversial as math. The “math wars,” as they’ve been called for decades, pit reformers who believe math is best taught through student exploration against traditionalists who argue for a focus on time-tested drills and algorithms.
Last year, newly elected superintendent Shelley Redinger called for a new curriculum at the elementary school level that balances the two approaches.
Now, the school district is taking a few steps toward that change, inviting the community to examine possible new math textbooks. Between grades 3-5, the district’s considering the Go Math, Expressions, My Math, and Stepping Stones curriculums, while between grades 6-8, it’s looking at the Digits, Springboard, CMP, and Carnegie curriculums.
Three opportunities remain for parents and math nerds to weigh in: 6:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 17, at Ridgeview Elementary; 6:30 pm Tuesday, Jan. 22 at North Central High School; and 6:30 Tuesday, Jan. 29, at Sacajawea Middle School.
— Daniel Walters
Biviano’s Back
Fresh off her unsuccessful race for Rep. Matt Shea’s state representative seat, Amy Biviano is getting right back in the politics. She’s one of nine members applying for the open Spokane Valley city council seat left by Brenda Grassel. Grassel stepped down when she decided to move away outside of city limits.
“It’s important to keep in mind this is a non-partisan position. Sometimes partisan positions obscure the fact that we mostly agree on the policy,” Biviano says. “When I talk with the majority of the members on the current council, we see eye-to-eye on things like budgeting.”
She’s not only former Democratic candidate to apply for a spot on the conservative Valley council. Linda Thompson unsuccessfully ran against Larry Crouse for state representative in 2008.
Three candidates, Rustin Hall, Kevin Anderson, and Lewis Higgins, have experience on the Spokane Valley Planning Commission. Of the rest, Mick Jackson runs an educational software company, Paul Rieckers is a technical writer, Samuel Wood is a real estate appraiser, and Jonathan Gibbs is a software quality assurance engineer.
— Daniel Walters
Council Crossfire
Two Spokane City Council members are planning to introduce non-binding resolutions that would put the city on the record in the gun control debate. But which way will the city go?
Councilman Jon Snyder’s resolution proposes closing a state loophole that lets juveniles with fewer than five felonies avoid jail time for the unlawful possession of a gun. The councilman also proposes stiffening jail penalties for juveniles caught unlawfully carrying guns.
Councilman Mike Fagan is tacking the opposite direction: a resolution listing the constitutional grounds and benefits of gun ownership.
Fagan’s resolution would “oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms and consider such laws to be unconstitutional and beyond lawful legislative authority.”
The resolutions could come before City Council as early as Feb. 4.
— Joe O’Sullivan
