Meet the new-new math, same as the old new-math

Interesting article on the institution of a pedagogical philosophy
that goes by several names—“Constructivist Math,” “New-New
Math,” and, to its detractors, “Fuzzy Math.” in New York’s
schools.

Regrettably, in the heavily bureaucratized public schools, bad results do
not necessarily lead to re-evaluation. Fuzzy Math, cooperative
learning, and myriad
other educational fads are the pet projects of very influential, tenured university �experts,� who
fiercely protect their theoretical turf, in teachers colleges and among school
administrators. If test scores seem to rise thanks to Fuzzy Math, great: campus
enthusiasts will tout the results. If they stagnate or fall, the theoreticians
will find ways to poke holes in any critical study that blames the theory.
[Full Article]

G.K. Chesterton once said something like: There will come
a time when teachers will teach using education theories that are younger than
their students.