The Pawtucket School Department shares the vision described by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. This vision necessitates today's educators to… "put aside two fundamental misconceptions of learning and teaching. The first is teaching is telling, knowledge is facts, and learning is accumulation and recitation. The second is that basic skills develop before higher-order skills and must be taught first". (Holmes Group, 12, p.1) An educational system grounded in these beliefs does not prepare its children for the future. Our students need the mathematical knowledge necessary to become competent, confident problem solvers who participate fully in the 21st century.
Educational equity is at the core of realizing this vision. All students must have opportunities to study - and the support to learn - rigorous mathematics. It is our belief that mathematics education in Pawtucket seamlessly integrates curriculum, instruction and assessment in a manner that enables all students to become mathematically literate and competent citizens.
Mathematics is a tool we use to understand and interpret our world. In our increasingly technological economy, those who can understand and apply mathematics have significantly enhanced opportunities to achieve success in continuing education and in life. The key to opening the door to these opportunities is a deep understanding of important mathematical concepts and procedures.
From the Pawtucket School Department's Epistemological Foundation for Mathematics Education.
