[btilly]

When good books written by knowledgeable and well-meaning subject specialists are taught by teachers who do not and do not wish to understand the material, the result is a predictable disaster. Doubly so since most teachers are not particularly smart.

I know that sounds mean, but look at http://www.statisticbrain.com/iq-estimates-by-intended-colle... and notice how students going into education strongly tend to have lower IQs than most college majors. Smarter than the average adult, sure. But well below most people who get to college.

[etler]

I agree with you for a middle or high school level course, but I would hope a teacher could wrap their heads around a 5-7 year old level explanation of algorithms if they're capable of teaching math.

[btilly]

Based on informal asking, most teachers who are supposed to be teaching fractions cannot figure out whether 2/3 is bigger than 3/5 or vice versa.

Given that fact, I am not optimistic about what you hope.

[etler]

If that's the case, I don't believe dumbing down the curriculum to the lowest common denominator of teachers is the solution to the problem.