A little learning is a dangerous thing

Following up on Tara's article from yesterday, I would like to draw your attention to this pamphlet by the British Columbia Association of Mathematics Teachers.  The whole thing is a mishmash of facts and fantasy, but this paragraph is the worst.

"Do students need to memorize basic facts to learn them?
"Recall of facts is important and expected; however, recall of basic facts developed from memorization alone does not help to develop the number sense that is required to solve problems. To have true mastery and robust recall of basic facts, students need to have efficient strategies. If facts learned through memorization are forgotten, students have no strategies to compute a result because memorization doesn’t lead to number sense. Although rote memorization can lead to recall for some students, for many students it leads to anxiety and/or a dislike of mathematics. This is especially true when recall of basic facts is timed."

As Tara states in her article, there is absolutely no research evidence whatsoever to support the notion that basic facts developed via memorization are not truly mastered and subject to robust recall - or that the process doesn't lead to number sense - or that rote memorization leads to anxiety and/or a dislike of mathematics - or that timed exercises are especially harmful. In fact, the evidence is exactly the opposite.

• The best way to master basic facts is through memorization. 
• The process leads to number sense.
• Rote memorization leads to confidence and a love of mathematics.
• Timed exercises are very helpful when it comes to mastering basic number facts.

To me, it is astonishing that the British Columbia Association of Mathematics Teachers would promulgate such garbage - garbage that is, moreover, very harmful to students. You know, if the members of the BCAMT wish to indulge their personal fantasies - say, for example, if they want to believe in UFO's or that eating bananas makes you live longer, then they are welcome to live in their delusional worlds. But when it comes to personal fantasies that harm others - especially young defenseless chlldren - then a line has been crossed. These people should be fired.

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