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The California
Mathematics Council believes that all students have the capacity to
become mathematically competent and confident when provided a rigorous
and challenging mathematical program supported by high expectations.
The California Mathematics Council is committed to:
- promoting professional activities that will ensure continual
improvement towards excellence in the teaching of mathematics;
- communicating with educators, parents, the public, and legislative
bodies concerning issues related to teaching rigorous, challenging
mathematics; and
- increasing the diversity of the membership of the California
Mathematics Council and the diversity of leadership in mathematics
education at the local, state, and national levels.
 Who Are We?
We are you—the
10,000 teachers, administrators, parents, and teacher-educators from
California, 45 other states, Canada, Australia, and 7 other foreign
countries who are committed to improving mathematics learning in the
private and public classrooms throughout California, North America and
the world!
All of the work of the Council, with one part-time
exception, is done by volunteers. These pre-K to 12 classroom teachers,
retired teachers, principals, parents, district superintendents,
authors, project managers, college professors, students, and others
devote tirelessly of themselves to bring you our fall conferences, our
quarterly ComMuniCator, teacher and student awards and activities, and
updates on events in Sacramento and Washington which effect the
mathematics classroom.
The best way to get involved with CMC is
through your local Affiliates. Volunteer your time to them and then
get involved with organizing our fall conferences. You'll be helping
teachers and students and will have an impact far beyond your classroom.
Map of this page:
Mission, Purpose, History, Structure and Sections,
Affiliates, Publications, Teacher Awards, Conferences
Purpose
The
California Mathematics Council is a professional organization of
educators who are individually and collectively dedicated to the
improvement of classroom instruction in mathematics at all levels. In
order to stimulate students' interest and accomplishments and to
promote a comprehensive education for every child, CMC has established
four goals:
- To foster excellence in school mathematics curricula and instructional programs, including assessment and evaluation.
-To promote professional excellence in mathematics teaching.
- To strengthen leadership in mathematics education in California.
- To help establish and support Affiliated Groups.
Membership is available to all persons interested in mathematics,
the teaching of mathematics, or activities related to mathematics
education.
History
The
California Mathematics Council was founded in 1942 when a small group
of mathematics teachers met at Stanford University to form an
organization for sharing information. Within months the membership had
grown into the hundreds and was spread throughout the state. In June of
1943 the first edition of the CMC Bulletin (now the ComMuniCator) was
published. The first CMC events were teacher workshops held at
Claremont and Stanford Universities. In 1948 the Council created two
regional sections within the state—northern and southern—to provide
better services to the growing membership. A central section was added
a few years later. George Polya and Brother Alfred Brousseau were instrumental in the founding and early development of the council.
List of CMC Past Presidents.
Some interesting facts:
- In 1946 CMC membership was 425, and the treasury held $89.58.
- In 1950 the dues were $2 (and starting salaries were under $3000).
- Today CMC boasts approximately 10,000 members.
- The widely used, creative P-O-W was started by CMC officers. (See Home.)
Structure and Sections
The
California Mathematics Council is a state-wide organization, with
officers elected by the entire membership and a governing board
appointed by the officers. The CMC functions as an umbrella for the
three regional sections: North, Central and South. Each Section also
has officers elected by all CMC members in its own geographic area and
an appointed Board. Section Membership is determined by your mailing
address (school or home).
Affiliates
Within
each region are a number of local Affiliated Groups formally associated
with the Section. Many of these are county-level organizations, but
others are larger or smaller in scope and some are not geographically
based. Currently there are two such groups representing community
college teachers.
Each of our Affiliates has a governing
structure and a set of by-laws approved by the Section. The president
or other representative of the Affiliate also sits on and reports to
the Section Board.
The California Mathematics Council, its three
Sections, and many of its Affiliates are also formally affiliated
with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
All
levels of CMC—state, regional, and local—organize or sponsor a variety
of conferences, teacher events, student events, and other activities
focusing on mathematics education.
Publications
The
ComMuniCator, a magazine published four times a year by CMC, is a
nationally recognized forum for mathematics educators. It discusses
current issues, reports new developments, showcases innovative teaching
and assessment techniques, and publicizes conferences, CMC services,
and other professional opportunities. All CMC members receive this
publication.
Teacher Awards
The
California Mathematics Council has established two memorial awards.
The Edward Begle Memorial Award is given to a California mathematics
educator for a sustained period of consistent support for mathematics
teaching and involvement in California mathematics education. The
recipient may be a district or school administrator, a mathematics
supervisor, a member of the State Department of Education, or any other
deserving educator. The Begle Award is usually given once a year, but
in a given year it may be awarded to more than one person or to none.
"The
George Polya Memorial Award" is given to a classroom teacher for a
distinguished career in the teaching of mathematics, active
participation in CMC, and high visibility throughout California. The
Polya Award is also is given once a year, but in a given year it may be
awarded to more than one person or to none.
The California
Mathematics Council acts as a reader for the "Presidential Awards for
Excellence" in Math and Science. Nomination forms are available through
CMC. The Council gives a monetary award to each of the Presidential
Award State Finalists.
CMC and its southern section, CMC-S,
each have established a scholarship in memory of Lurie Center, who died
at the end of her first year as CMC-S president. These scholarships
enable a teacher to attend a section conference with all expenses paid.
The Lurie Center Scholarship is open to teachers of color, while "The
Lurie Center Elementary Teaching Award" is open to all K-6 teachers who
work with students of color.
More info on Awards, Grants and Scholarships
CMC Conferences
Each
Section holds a large conference every fall or spring. Historically the
Northern Section conference is held at Asilomar on the Monterey
peninsula a week after Thanksgiving and the Southern Section conference
is in Palm Springs at the beginning of November. Central's new
Symposium, an all-workshop format, is in Monterey County in March. The
wide variety of conference sessions provides something for everyone
involved in mathematics education—teachers, administrators, and other
professionals, from early childhood to college. Extensive commercial
exhibits display up-to-date curriculum materials and other wares.
Participants from all over the country (and even a few from other
countries) value the opportunity to talk, share, and network with their
colleagues from near and far. Conference brochures are sent
automatically to all members of the appropriate CMC Section.
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This Page was last updated: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 3:27:52 PM
This page was originally posted: 5/6/2001; 11:06:16 AM.
Copyright 2008 cmcmath
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