"That's what worries area school districts which say a pair of recent state court decisions on high-school math textbooks have them seeking legal advice before they make their choice.
The two decisions appear to be big wins for parents who support traditional math instruction. But educators say the Seattle case, in particular, raises questions about a district's ability to pick its own curriculum materials without fearing legal action.
'The courts ought not to be making decisions about curriculum,' said Doug Stolier, senior assistant attorney general for the state of Washington. The state Supreme Court has ruled in previous decisions that 'it's not the role of courts to be micromanaging education,' he said.
The math wars have heated up in other ways. Earlier this month, Bellevue PTSA organizers scrapped a parent math night, fearing it had been taken over by parents on only one side of the issue — those who want the district to adopt a traditional math approach."
The two decisions appear to be big wins for parents who support traditional math instruction. But educators say the Seattle case, in particular, raises questions about a district's ability to pick its own curriculum materials without fearing legal action.
'The courts ought not to be making decisions about curriculum,' said Doug Stolier, senior assistant attorney general for the state of Washington. The state Supreme Court has ruled in previous decisions that 'it's not the role of courts to be micromanaging education,' he said.
The math wars have heated up in other ways. Earlier this month, Bellevue PTSA organizers scrapped a parent math night, fearing it had been taken over by parents on only one side of the issue — those who want the district to adopt a traditional math approach."
