Russian School of Mathematics

The Russian School of Mathematics (RSM) is an after-school program that provides mathematics education to children attending K–12 public and private schools. The school provides children with the opportunity to advance in mathematics beyond the traditional school curriculum. The founder of RSM is Inessa Rifkin and the co-founder is Irene Khavinson.[1][2][3][4]

Russian School of Mathematics
Location
Established in Newton, MA
Information
TypePrivate
Established1997
PrincipalInessa Rifkin, Irene Khavinson
NicknameRSM, Russian School, Russian Math School
Websitewww.russianschool.com

The focus of RSM is primary school mathematics. The high school level classes offer preparation for standardized tests such as the SAT, SAT II, and AP exams. Each class usually involves intensive reinforcement of topics using many examples and exercises. Accompanied by classwork, all students are given homework to reinforce what they have learned.[5][6]

History

According to the official website, Inessa Rifkin (born in Minsk, Belarus) and Irina Khavinson (born in Chernigov, Ukraine) left the USSR in search of a better life for their children.[7] Together, they created a math education program based on quality and depth.[7] According to the website, they "Sparked a Movement." In 1997, the first class was held at Ms. Rifkin's kitchen table, also said to be in her living room,[8] outside of Boston, Massachusetts. In October 1999, their first dedicated school building was established in a Boston-area suburb. They currently have approximately 40,000 students.

School in Lower Manhattan, New York City

Locations

The after-school mathematics program was originally established in Boston,[9] inside Inessa Rifkin's living room.[8] Since then, the school has expanded to include more than 50 schools in the US and Canada, as well as online programs.[10][11] RSM also runs an overnight camp in Sunapee, New Hampshire.[12]

Controversy

On March 20, 2022 the cofounder Inessa Rifkin posted in the private RSM Summer Camp Facebook page [13] stating:

Ukraine had a choice of surrender peacefully with min human casualties and min property loss to Putin. President Zelensky made a choice to fight back. He is risking not only his own life but by now thousands of civilians already lost their lives, among them a lot of children. On top of it almost 3,000,000 people become refugees. Theoretically one could argue that President Zelensky also, not only Putin, is responsible for human suffering. Was he right? Did he have a right to decide for other people’s children?

Rifkin has since elaborated on the statement on her facebook page,[14] saying that this question was intentionally written in a provocative way not to express a view point, but to spark debate within the camp, and is similar to other questions about provocative topics such as Israel and the Holocaust asked in the past.

References
  1. "About Our Founders". Russian School of Mathematics. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  2. Giacobbe, Alyssa (31 March 2020). "Should Your Kid Be Taking Russian Math?". Boston Magazine.
  3. Goldberg, Carey (13 April 2017). "Why Thousands Of American Parents Are Sending Their Kids To 'Russian Math'". WBUR-FM.
  4. "Masha Gershman: What Can We Learn From The Russian Approach To Math Education?". NPR. 15 March 2019.
  5. Beth Teitel (March 15, 2016) There’s fear of math, and then there’s fear of Russian Math, Boston Globe
  6. Haft, Clair Tisne (25 July 2018). "The Motherlode: Not everything adds up at 'fun math camp'". Greenwich Time.
  7. "About RSM: The Russian School of Mathematics". Russian School of Math. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  8. ""From Russia with Math", New Documentary About Russian School of Mathematics (RSM) Selected For Winter Fest Film Festival". Louisville Business First. PR Newswire. 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  9. Donahue, Jane. "Russian School of Mathematics training brains to solve problems". The Naperville Sun. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  10. Moran, Catherine Douglas (10 August 2020). "Russian School of Mathematics to Open Tysons Location Soon". Tyson Reporter.
  11. "10,000 Students Now Enrolled!!!". Russian School of Mathematics. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  12. Sosnowski, Pamela. "Russian School of Mathematics Gives Children a Solid Math Foundation". Mass Realty. Archived from the original on 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  13. "Russian School of Math co-founder blasted for saying Ukraine shares blame in death toll". Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  14. "March 2022 Facebook post". Retrieved March 30, 2022.

42.295°N 71.200°W / 42.295; -71.200

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