Math Craze Hits DeKalb, Alabama

By saksit @ Adobe Stock

Making Math Relatable

In the WSJ, Andy Kessler writes about making America smart again through the wonder of AI. There is another approach, however, that also seems to be working. Travel instead to DeKalb, Alabama, in the northwest part of the state, where spectacular photos show the Lookout Mountain Parkway spanning three states and stretching across Lookout Mountain from Gadsden, Alabama, to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Also stunning: 91% of DeKalb students are “economically disadvantaged.”

Math Fits in the Palm of a Hand

As the Trump administration focuses on trying to close the DOE, “nationwide, lower-performing 4^th and 8^th graders,” reports Mr. Kessler, “have the worst reading levels in 30 years.” President Trump, never one to shy away from hyperbole, recently said, “Everything’s computer.” Well, not exactly, Mr. Trump. Visit DeKalb to see how that school system is tackling poor test scores and creating personalized learning tools. Little colorful plastic bears are as close to AI as you will get in these math classes. No hours spent on tech-related iPads in DeKalb, Alabama.

The New Math

With the reimaging of elementary school math instruction, students at DeKalb are to be congratulated for being part of the success that led to dramatic student improvement between 2019 and 2024. It’s all the more remarkable, considering five years ago, the pandemic brought education in the U.S. to a grinding halt and, in many parts of the country, achievement still hasn’t rebounded.

“Alabama is the only state where 4th-grade math scores are higher now than they were in 2019, before the pandemic,” reports NRO.

No Worksheets or Textbooks?

That’s right. Instead of standard vehicles of education, young students learn math by adding and subtracting with tiny toy bears. They multiply with plastic blocks and learn fractions using multi-colored magnetic tiles. At this school, math fits in the palm of a small hand.

“President Donald Trump is working to close the U.S. Department of Education in order “to move education into the states,” Alabama’s math turnaround is proving states can control their educational destinies.

Are Democrats Embracing Sanity?

Ex-Mayor Slams Chicago

And while we are busy deciding who to deport, how about waving goodbye to one Randi Weingarten and other government unions?

Well, don’t raise your hopes too high, but here’s what Rahm Emanuel recently told Bill Maher on HBO’s “Real Time with BH.”

“Look, in seventh grade, if I had known that I could have said the word ‘they’ and got in the girls’ bathroom, I would have done it.” 

Mr. Emmanuel was the former ambassador to Japan, Chicago mayor, chief of staff to Barack Obama, and Freddie Mac board director. Rahm Emmanuel seem be to enjoying his hair being down.

“And I’ll say this about our schools: I don’t wanna hear another word about the locker room. I don’t wanna hear another word about the bathroom. You better start focusing on the classroom.”