Math teacher defends Alberta curriculum

A math teacher is defending the Alberta mathcurriculum against charges that it is too confusing for students.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petitionstarted byNhung Tran-Davies of Calmar, Alta., whichcallsfor a return to teaching basic math skills inschools around the province.

• Alberta parent urges back to basics for math in school

Dave Martin, who teaches high schoolmath in Red Deer,believes the new methods of teaching math are more conducive to understanding mathematics.

"It unshackles the students and lets them choose the way they go in solving math problems," said Martin. "The focus now is not mastery of memorization, it's mastery of understanding."

• Listen to the full interview from the Calgary Eyeopener:

Tran-Davies started herpetition because her daughterin Grade 3is struggling with math and she believesthe curriculum needs to be simplified..

She was also prompted by arecentstudyfrom theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)that showed Canadianstudents slipping behind their peers in other countries when it comes to both math and science.