During Wednesday night’s BOE meeting, parents, teachers and administrators discussed the value of Pearson enVision Math 2.0 Common Core.
At its latest meeting, the Voorhees Township Public Schools Board of Education tabled the proposed Pearson enVision Math 2.0 Common Core for middle school grades after parents voiced concerns about the program.
The mathematics textbook with corresponding online software was originally piloted with Voorhees elementary students about two years ago. However, parents say Pearson is not a sufficient or effective approach to modern math skills, feeling it panders to the requirements of the controversial PARCC assessments that Gov. Murphy could eliminate as a requirement for graduation, which even further nullifies the program.
Under the superintendent’s report, Lisa Leaf, middle school math spokesperson, pitched the program to the board, saying after extensive review, enVision was the most reasonable choice for a new math curriculum.
“The strength of the Pearson enVision program is it melds both the traditional math program with an innovative and interactive online,” Leaf said.
Since the district’s elementary schools, as well as Eastern Regional Regional High School, Leaf says, are using Pearson learning services, the middle school’s choice in adopting enVision will create consist learning throughout grade levels.
Considering the perpetual change in technology, Leaf says the program will foster students’ abilities for the future.
“enVision math program will be a powerful tool in helping our students master 21st century skills,” she said.
However, during the meeting’s public portion, Committeewoman Michelle Nocito raised thoughts about enVision based on her daughter’s work in the elementary pilot program, describing it as a “tortuous” experience.
Contrary to Leaf’s point about consistency, Nocito said the implementation of the program could be especially challenging for seventh and eighth graders, as they’ll eventually have to adapt to yet another math program in high school. While Eastern does follow Pearson curriculums, enVision is only oriented for grade K to 6.
“The results, I think, are going to be skewed for the middle school experience when they are subjected to this math program this year,” Nocito said.
Several parents, particularly with children in elementary schools, supported Nocito’s thoughts on enVision, explaining it as a cumbersome and confusing program.
Often, convoluted questions make it difficult not only to find answers but to comprehend what the questions are asking. According to parents, many elementary students receive math tutoring as a result of enVision.
“(The program) is ridiculous,” parent Jessica Soffian said. “We don’t even understand some of the wording in the questions.”
“I really highly recommend that a little more forethought is put into the program need,” parent Stephen Cassidy added. “Because, Pearson as a whole … it’s just god awful.”
The board questioned Leaf on the elements of Pearson enVision as compared to other programs that were considered.
Leaf feels Pearson satisfies a crucial digital component of learning, while retaining traditional core components.
“I don’t care what textbook you pick up. There’s going to be more rigor. The questions are going to be harder,” Leaf said. “There is this whole other world out there and that’s the world our kids have to learn to navigate.”
Jennifer Parks, another parent, advocated for Pearson, saying the program is teaching kids how to code.
“I think our kids will need to learn how to code, and that’s what we want them to learn,” Parks said
The board said it will revisit Pearson enVision.
Although he admits to not having much knowledge on math programs, Board President Richard Nelson feels it’s ideal to practice the consistency of using the same program throughout grade levels.
He recalls math curriculums constantly changing throughout the years and feels students and teachers need to adopt to changing rules.
“The times have changed and procedures changed. The way life is taught, the way math is taught, the way language is taught has changed over the years,” Nelson said.
