SAN JOSE, Calif., March 31 (UPI) -- As the United States prepares to adopt the first nationwide "common core" standards for publicschool students, California is divided on how best to teach math.
Proponents say the core standards would help ensure students have a firm grasp of math before moving to the next level, while opponents say the standards would set back math education in the state, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
The newspaper said the English curriculum hasn't caused a fuss, but the debate overteaching math resembles the "math wars" of the 1990s that led to repeals of reforms emphasizing problem-solving, applying knowledge and group work over traditional teaching methods.
The proposed standards would mean a step backward for some students, critics say.
Gretchen Muller, president of the northern section of the California Math Council, said, for example, students would learn multiplication in fourth grade rather than third. Others say the