It’s time for a choice in math curriculum for our students

According to the U.S. Commission on National Security in the 21st Century: “If the U.S. does not stop and reverse negative educational trends, it will be unable to maintain its position of global leadership over the next quarter century. In January of 2001 the Hart-Rudman Commission, tasked with finding solutions to our major national security threats, concluded that the failures of our math and science education “pose a great threat than any potential conventional war.”

According to a recent article called Brain Drain in Readers Digest, by Kathryn Wallace, less than 6 percent of our present high school seniors plan to pursue engineering degrees, down 36 percent from a decade ago. Richard Smalley, professor of chemistry and physics at Rice University is convinced that if present trends continue, 90 percent of all the world’s scientists and engineers will be living in Asia by 2010!

Closer to home, teachers in North Kitsap Schools are shocked at the deficiencies of entering students in basic math skills. Recently the district offered a forum for those interested in discussing math curriculum. About half a dozen dedicated teachers, a school board member and another half dozen parents met with the district to candidly discuss the curriculum. Most of us there would like to see an alternative made available. It’s clearly time for a change.

One solution might be to offer a choice. For those who wish to continue with the discover oriented Connected Math Curriculum, it should be available. However for those parents, teachers and students who would prefer a more traditional math curriculum, an alternative should also be available. This track could use Singapore or Saxon Math Curriculum which focuses on skill building and efficiency in solving problems quickly. While connected Math emphasizes “process,” Singapore and Saxon emphasize “correct answers.” Rather than an emphasis on data gathering and graphs, it would work on building foundations for higher levels of mathematics. The questions now before the district is, should we go ahead and purchase the Connected Curriculum for the higher levels of math. If you share concerns about our present curriculum, I urge you to make them known ASAP.

Lucy Wells

Poulsbo

Speed Tables

County should have had neighbors pay

Feedback to story:

‘Crumbs from the speed tables’

In the recent past, the county showed an admirable interest in the preference of the locals about what kind of improvements on Hood Canal Drive they were willing to accept and pay for.

Why can’t they do that now, with the speed bumps?

Paul Kenworthy

Kingston

County, committee deserve our thanks

As a member of the GHA community who lives on Hood Canal Drive, my quality of life — and that of my neighbors — has dramatically improved since addition of the speed tables. Instead of watching every speeding car when I go for a walk, wondering whether I need to move into the ditch to remain safe, I can take contemplative, quieter walks. Instead of worrying when I see a young mother walking with a stroller and her children, I now know that they are safer. Instead of working in my home office with the din of traffic noise in the background, I can hear the music on my stereo.

What neighborhoods all over the country have found is that the single greatest, most immediate improvement in quality of life can be made by simply controlling the speed at which cars drive on local streets. The improvement is not only in terms of safety, but in reduced traffic noise and pollution from exhaust. This fact has been well documented by numerous studies by organizations such as AARP. And in the GHA, hundreds of cars have been documented speeding each week in our neighborhoods. All that has been asked — after a thorough and well-managed process that included all community members, the county, law enforcement and the fire department — is that drivers simply obey the speed limit. Therefore, I would like to say the following to the GHA committee members, Commissioner Bauer, the sheriff’s department, the fire department and neighborhood board members who volunteered to participate in this process: Job well done. I truly appreciate your efforts.

Karen Brown

Hansville

Speed bumps still aren’t working right

Feedback to story:

‘New speed tables strike complaints in Hansville’

These tables are STILL not what they were advertised to be. Traffic has to slow down to 15 mph to negotiate comfortably.

I hope that the county will recognize this and correct the problem.

BILL RHODES

Hansville

City Hall

Location on 3rd is absurd, won’t work

I am truly amazed with our elected officials; case in point is the latest suggested location for Poulsbo’s new city hall.

The matter was settled long ago that along with the Poulsbo Police Department the new city hall was to be built on land on 10th Avenue near the fire department. All city business in one area. Land purchased, plans being drawn up.

Whoa! Comes a new mayor who threw the whole thing out which opened a huge can of worms… She wants a different location and that seems difficult to find. The latest is Third and Moe Streets. The worst location of any: downtown merchants and clerks park there and the area is always full.

If the city builds the new city hall on Moe and Third where will merchants and clerks park? Where will city employees park? Where will folks park on court days? Visitors to city hall? How do the folks who reside on Third Street feel about losing their parking and facing increased traffic?

One more exercise in futility. Where and when will it end?

J. Dillman

Poulsbo

Thank You

Bras for a Cause was a huge success

A huge THANK YOU to our Kitsap Community for their overwhelming support of the “Bras for a Cause” auction fundraiser recently sponsored by Soroptimist International of Greater North Kitsap!

Overall, the event brought in more than $15,000 that will directly benefit women and children in the Kitsap County Community. Proceeds will help with the creation of the Harrison Medical Center Oncology Services rooftop healing garden. In addition, Hospice of Kitsap County will also be a major benefactor.

Members of the Greater Kitsap Community supported this local fundraiser by creating “art bras,” donating auction items, becoming event sponsors, and by attending the gala auction. So, “Thank you so much, Kitsap County, for your generous support! You Rock!”

Sincerely,

Barbara Hartley

Soroptimist International of Greater North Kitsap

Poulsbo