Saxon author’s support of Where’s The Math?

I haven’t checked my junk email box in a week or two, and found a few Where’s The Math? news emails in there this morning. (I need to filter those!) Stephen Hake, author of Saxon Math’s middle school math curriculum, wrote a letter of support to Washington State’s Where’s The Math? group. I love it!
(Link to YouTube video is from me.)
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“Dear Math Advocates,

I have come to your site via the delightful YouTube video “Math with Madeline.” I am the author of the middle-grade math textbooks of Saxon Math, and naturally I enjoyed Madeline’s fondness for Math 76.

As we attempt to develop materials for students across the country we consider a wide variety of state standards and assessment programs. Those documents span a wide spectrum of educational philosophies, and I find those of Washington positioned at a far extreme of the range.

The educational philosophy of my home state of California was not dissimilar to that of Washington a decade ago. In California a capable and dedicated advocacy group, Mathematically Correct, successfully steered California from a “reform” emphasis by demonstrating to the State Board of Education that the reform movement was producing massive failure in reading and math and by convincing the Board that direct instruction and clear, specific content standards were necessary. Advocacy groups can make a big difference when they find the right pressure point.

When I first threw in my lot with John Saxon in 1983, we were motivated by the same concern. Our nation depends upon a quantitatively competent workforce, yet we faced what some described as a disaster in math education. John Saxon stated that the disaster did not just happen; it was caused by following the unproven recommendations of self-proclaimed educational experts. John made enemies with his diagnosis, and many opposed his prescription for a remedy, but Saxon found thousands of appreciative customers who recognized what works with kids. I am thankful that many students like Madeline are finding success in math and enjoying the experience by using proven programs like Singapore Math and Saxon Math.

I applaud your efforts and wish you the best of success!

Stephen Hake”