Proposed math tests a “political strategy”

The dean of education at the University of Windsor said mandatory math tests for new educators proposed by the Ford government is a political strategy.

The math proficiency test is part of a bill called the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act proposed by the Progressive Conservative government. If passed, the bill will impose a mandatory math proficiency test on new educators before they can teach in Ontario. The bill was proposed in response to EQAO test results released August 2018 indicating that half of Ontario students are not meeting the provincial standard in math.

“I think it is a political strategy,” said Dr. Montgomery, dean of education at the University of Windsor. “Slapping on a test is a really cost-effective way to demonstrate to the public that you are taking action. I don’t think a test will help our teacher candidates become more competent at teaching mathematics.”

Montgomery said a proposed test could force the faculty of education and the Ontario College of Teachers to look more closely at their programs, but he said that has already been occurring.

Montgomery said changes made to the education program in 2016, expanding it from a one-year program to a two-year program, already jumpstarted faculties to evaluate their programs and priority areas, including math. He said this has strengthened the education received by graduates of the program who are entering the profession. Montgomery said they are already engaging in discourse with school boards in the area who have concerns about the quality of math instruction.

According to Montgomery, superior ways to tackle the issue of declining math proficiency in Ontario schools are not being considered. He said the problem is these alternatives cost money.

“If you want to encourage better math instruction, why not subsidize opportunities for current teachers to upgrade their math skills with additional qualifications,” said Montgomery. “Why not consider having a teacher who specializes in math move from class-to-class the same way that a music teacher does?”

Montgomery said class sizes are also increasing making it more difficult for teachers to teach math and for students to learn. He said allocating resources toward hiring more teachers and reducing class sizes could be another solution to improving the quality of education in schools.

He said the government’s proposal of a mandatory math proficiency test came before consultation with key players in the education system occurred. This includes working with school boards, teacher unions, teacher federations and faculties of education to see what is already being done.

Montgomery said he has already started to see anxieties expressed by teacher candidates about the proposed test.

Kaleb Stropkovics, a second-year education student at the University of Windsor, said he was concerned when he first heard the government might impose a mandatory math test.

“Growing up not being good at math and not following the rest of my class in math has led me this far into specializing in English,” said Stropkovics. “I don’t think teachers like myself who are passionate about one subject should miss out on a teaching opportunity because of weaknesses in another subject.”

Stropkovics said the math test is a Band-Aid to cover up real issues in the development of the math curriculum.

Montgomery said the two-year program gives teacher candidates the appropriate education in math for the level they wish to teach at when they enter the profession.

A student who wants to teach at the elementary level is required to take two courses in math worth three credits. Students who plan to teach at the high school level take two courses in math worth 1.5 credits in addition to specializing in a teachable. Some students will choose to specialize in a teachable such as math making their course load more math-intensive.

Most information about the proposed math test remains unclear. If the bill passes, it is unknown who will have to write the test and what math skills will be tested.

“If we need to make sure that you pass a test that is imposed by the government we will make sure that happens,” said Montgomery.

“We’ve got your back.”