Parent criticizes Bridges math curriculum, urges board to stop renewal

Sam Ruchnick, a resident and parent, urged the Kenosha School District board to “reject anything having to do with Bridges math curriculum.” Ruchnick told the board he believes Bridges emphasizes abstract reasoning and “the why” behind math in a way that is developmentally inappropriate for elementary students.

Ruchnick cited Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and said many parents struggle to help with homework: “As a parent, many nights I've had to Google what my son was being asked to do by his elementary and middle school math teachers, and I'm a math teacher with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. How can our district be okay with cutting parents off from their child's math education?”

He argued the district’s adoption and continued use of Bridges has left students unprepared for high-school algebra and said a course was renamed locally to mask that students lack prerequisite arithmetic and algebra skills. He said Bridges has been in the district for eight years with worsening scores and that both parents and math teachers “hate Bridges math.” Ruchnick asked the board not to renew the curriculum.

His remarks were made during public comment; the transcript does not record a board response or a vote on the curriculum at this meeting.