European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 9, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday june 9, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 5 scores Progress of . Math students leaves lots of adding to do report says Washington a a govern ment sponsor d study concluded tues Day hat american Slud cols Are doing miserably in math and experts Laid som of the by Etc an the redundant slow paced Way math is taught in most schools. The National assessment of educational Progress reported thai almost hair the 17-year-old students tested in 1985-86 proved incapable of handling male commonly taught in Junior High an nearly 27 percent of 13-year-Olds were stumped by Basic compilations our n Inch graders arc taking what other people s seventh graders arc taking Ches Ter finn or. The assistant . Secretary of education for research and improvement Lold a news conference. We be got to get it going faster repeated less and make sure that it s Learned More the study was based on exams Given to nearly 15,000 Slu dents Ages 9, 13 and17 in 1985-86, and to a total of nearly 35.000 students in grades 3, 7 and 11. It was the fourth National assessment in male since 1972-73. The study the mathematics report card arc we measuring  said Al three age groups made modest improvements in recent years but most Lyon Low order skills. Fewer were capable of advanced work in 1986 than in 1978. Despite signs of their Progress across time the 1986 performance of 17-year old students was dismal the report said. Only half the High school students demonstrated an understanding of even moderately Complex mathematical procedures usually introduced in Junior High. The report said math classes Are dominated by paper and Pencil drills on Basic computation. Little evidence appears of any widespread use of calculators computers or mathematics pro  More than a Quarter of the 17-year Olds reported they usually do not under stand what is talked about in mathematics class. Math instruction is dominated by teacher explanations chalkboard presentations and Reliance on textbooks and workshops. More innovative forms of instruction such As. Small group activities Laboratory work and special projects remain disappointingly  the Early emphasis on practising computations May serve to divorce mathematics from real world observations the report said once students learn to rely on procedures they land to give up on common sense. This can Lead to preposterous  we re seeing a lot of Drill and prac Tice on Obs Jalc skills said John a. Dossy an Illinois slate University male professor. But the students tested in 1986 also reported gelling More Homework and tests in math and More were enrolled i advanced courses. The report said 98 percent of the 9-year-Olds and 100 percent of the older students knew simple arithmetic facts but virtually none of the younger Stu dents and Only 6.4 percent of the oldest could solve mull step problems and Alge Bra  and hispanic Slu dents As Well As those living in the Southeast gained ground but remain car behind the White majority. The National assessment administered by educational testing service tests a Sample of american students i Basic subjects every other year. Finn whose department pays for the testing said la i despite minority gains Only one Black 17-year-old student in feels Radical changes May be needed Bennett again hits Chicago schools Chicago a Chicago s Public schools labelled the worst in the nation by education Secretary William Bennett could be the Best place