RIP: Ontario Math Proficient Tests for Teachers?

[dewline]

I think I know people who will rightly and righteously celebrate this news, once confirmed.

https://twitter.com/jdeq/status/1471924190395740163

Oh, wait! It IS confirmed.

https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/news/ontario-court-declares-that-the-ontario-math-proficiency-test-is-unconstitutional/

https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/2021-12-16-OTCC-v-Ontario-FINAL-signed-by-all.pdf

Comments

[cmcmck]

Huh?

I was a teacher (not of maths) who is dysnumeric!

Didn't mean I couldn't teach what I taught! :o/

[dewline]

Doug Ford's Conservatives have different ideas on this point, as jsburbidge notes elsewhere here...

[jsburbidge]

Celebration might be premature, as this is only a Divisional Court decision. Expect this to be appealed at least up to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

That being said, and looking at the judgement, it does not look as though the government has a strong case on appeal. Their big problem is the existence of alternatives (primarily, mandating mathematical training at the B.Ed. level) which were recommended in studies but which they did not explore, and the relatively weak correlation shown between passing a standardized test (with multiple retries allowed) and classroom outcomes.

I would note, though, that having a required math course at the B.Ed. level - the alternative the court considered as the most likely alternative approach - would very likely screen out the majority of individuals who fail the test, although it would certainly be much better for people like the one candidate who made a deposition, for whom factors other than mathematical competence were an issue.

(One item which was not addressed because it was not relevant was the politically-driven "back to basics" approach. It certainly makes teaching easier, as it restricts the topics taught in math in primary school. It almost certainly does nothing to prepare students for later mathematical training, and is largely irrelevant for others who will always have a calculator to hand in later life.)

Underlying this is the blunt fact that generally students with real mathematical ability will tend to look elsewhere for careers unless the government provides wage levels for math and science teachers which match those of competing opportunities - an approach unlikely to be popular with government, school administrators, or unions.

[frith]

Related: in my place of employment there is a grievance that has been deposé against a new policy of requiring (unionized) personnel applying for a position of vet technician to take a written exam. No other position has required a written proficiency exam be taken.