I'm sorry to see Cliff Mass go

I was surprised and upset to learn this morning that KUOW has canceled Professor Cliff Mass from Steve Scher’s Friday morning Weekday radio program.  Cliff Mass is Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Washington, and for 15 years he has been on KUOW, discussing the fascinating intricacies of Northwest weather, the weekend forecast and education-related topics.   Evidently KUOW does not approve of Professor Mass’ views on the poor state of math education and the failures of the UW College of Education in this area.  The producer and the host of the popular morning show have decided to censor these views and silence Professor Mass.

Professor Mass is also a leader in WheresTheMath, a group of high school and college-level math teachers and parents.  WheresTheMath has selflessly and tirelessly worked to improve math instruction in Washington.  For example, WheresTheMath brought public attention to the second-rate math curriculum known as Reform Math, a weak teaching method promoted by the UW School of Education and still employed by many school districts, including Seattle.  This curriculum is partly responsible for confusing and discouraging children studying math across the state.

The results are deplorable.  Fifty-eight percent of Washington’s tenth-grade students fail the state’s math test.

Another contributing problem is that less than 40% of Washington’s junior and high school math teachers hold a college degree in math.   Teacher credential laws and colleges of education grant math credentials to teachers who have far too little math knowledge to be allowed to teach in our classrooms.

KUOW listeners have a right to hear informed opinions about the role of the UW College of Education in this widespread failure to teach math to Washington’s students.

Taking Professor Mass off the air in this way makes KUOW look very bad.  Their stated purpose is to provide a public forum to discuss important issues facing us.  Censoring Cliff Mass is a disservice to longtime KUOW listeners like me.  Count me as disappointed.  Friday mornings won’t be the same without Professor Mass.