Over four score and seven decades ago philosophers brought forth into this world a new mathematics, conceived in correct computational formulae and dedicated to the proposition that two plus two equals four.

Now we are engaged in a great educational war, testing whether algebra I or any form of mathematics so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great virtual battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field to those who are giving up the quality of their education so that California's Math Framework might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow their loss. The brave children who now must struggle to learn math outside of the classroom have consecrated it far above our power to add or subtract. The world will little note nor long remember the actions of a few irate parents, but it can never forget what fate has befallen the children. It is for us, the mathematically competent, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work, to the battle to save basic math skills that has thus far been so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored children we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave up their weekends and vacation time -- that we highly resolve that these children shall not have suffered in vain, that this state shall have a rebirth of computational skills, and that a mathematics of algebra I, geometry, and algebra II shall not perish from our schools.

Paul Clopton
The University City Light, Dec. 28, 1995
The La Jolla Light, Jan. 4, 1996
Reproduced by Permission

Historical note: The California Math Framework referenced above was issued in 1992, and was responsible for aiding and abetting a serious downturn in the quality of mathematics course materials in California. However, On December 10, 1998, the California State Board of Education unanimously approved a new Mathematics Framework, spelling out in clear detail the mathematics that should be taught to our students. The 1998 document includes topics such as algebra I, geometry, and algebra II. Mathematically Correct thanks the State Board of Education for this adoption.