A group of parents concerned about changes in the middle school math curriculum has been slapped down repeatedly by the Plano Independent School District. In PISD, such antagonism toward parents is typical, but if a non-profit legal foundation from San Antonio has its say in the matter, PISD may finally have to acknowledge parents’ rights.

Over the past two years, Plano ISD has used a curriculum based on Dale Seymour Publications’ Connected Mathematics text books in several middle schools. Called a pilot program, this test has really run on auto-pilot, neither soliciting, nor welcoming, input from parents. At the March 16^th meeting of the Board of Trustees public input on the text was allowed. Every parent with children in the program who spoke that night was strongly opposed to Connected Math. Even the district-appointed Blue Ribbon Committee failed to endorse the text. Trustees voted to adopt it anyway.

Connected Math is part of a nationwide fad sometimes called "Fuzzy Math," "Whole Math," or "New New Math." The approach relies on group work, calculators and "discovery learning"

"It's an issue of a district purposely turning a deaf ear to hundreds of parents." Tom Stack, Attorney

(read: teaching yourself). The text has been criticized by independent groups, such as California’s Mathematically Correct, and has been adopted by fewer than 4% of districts statewide. Connected Math’s increased calculator use is additionally troubling in light of SB103, recently signed into law by Gov. Bush, which prohibits calculator use on the TAAS.

Parents, having failed to stop the textbook’s adoption, turned their efforts to requesting an alternate class for families who would prefer traditional math. When district officials rebuffed these requests, they first took their case to a private attorney, then to the Education Committee of the Texas House of Representatives. There, the authors of Section 26.003 of the Texas Education Code, relating to parental rights, made clear that it was their belief the law would specifically require PISD to honor the parents’ request for an alternative course. Deputy Superintendent Keith Sockwell, making an impromptu appearance before the committee, was forced to concede the point. Upon his return to Plano, however, Sockwell reversed course, indicating in a letter to parents that no option would be offered, and "that decision is final."

The parents group, calling itself Math Choice, continued in its efforts, drafting a petition that was mailed to some 5,000 households in PISD. So far, over 500 families have signed and returned it, requesting traditional math in place of Connected Math.

In response, Superintendent Doug Otto spent $2,600 taxpayer dollars to send a letter to 10,000 households, reasserting PISD’s position that they have no obligation to offer another course. The response was effective, slowing the petition response to a trickle. There is some question whether this, and previous district actions designed to stifle parents’ opinions, constitute content-based discrimination, in violation of Federal laws.

Now, the Texas Justice Foundation, a non-profit legal foundation based in San Antonio, has taken notice. TJF attorney Thomas Stack, who presented the 500 petitions at the June 15^th board meeting, seems confident that the parents are on solid ground.

"I think the issue facing the district has changed," says Stack, "From a question of the curriculum complying with TEKS, to a question of parental rights to direct the education of their children, a recognized and firm right. It's an issue of a district purposely turning a deaf ear to hundreds of parents."

The stone wall is usually enough to stop pesky parents, but where parents’ rights are at stake, Texas Justice Foundation is likely to keep chipping away.

Maybe it’s time Plano ISD stopped fighting parents with their own tax dollars, and started listening to them.