Parents in Alpine School District are not all extremists -- and none of them wish to be called such.

During an April 4 Orem City Council meeting, Superintendent Vernon Henshaw used the word "extremist" to describe those in the district who feel passionately about the ways math is taught.

"And I'm sorry, I'll just say you may have received e-mails from extremists and ... I'll say that publicly because I've talked to them personally and let them know that I thought they were extreme and that was OK if they wanted to be extreme, but I wasn't," Henshaw said during the meeting. "And nor do I think the great majority of Alpine District patrons are."

The discussion between the district officials and City Council is posted on Oak Norton's Web site, oaknorton.com. Norton, a Highland resident, has one daughter in traditional public school and several in charter schools. He is a critic of the district's former math program, Investigations Math.

"We kind of felt like the whole thing was going to be put to bed earlier this year," Norton said. "Essentially, he calls parents extremists for trying to get rid of Investigations."

On Tuesday, Henshaw said in no way did he think parents in the district were extremists -- they're just people with extreme views on both ends of the math education spectrum. He felt his comment needed to be listened to in full context to understand his message to the City Council. Based on community meetings the district held this month, the majority of parents are happy with the what the district is doing in the math department.

At oaknorton.com, 1,103 families, representing about 5.5 percent of Alpine School District's students, have signed a petition to remove Investigations Math.

Earlier this year, a district math committee recommended two new programs to replace Investigations Math to better meet the state core curriculum. Schools in the district have been in charge of choosing which program to implement, and can continue to use Investigations as a supplement to the regular program.

"Who's more extreme, the school district for trying to get rid of times tables, or the parents who are trying to get them backfi" Norton said.

Norton's Web site asks parents to spread news "far and wide" and calls for Henshaw's resignation. He said he did not know how many people think Henshaw should resign.

Brooke Barker can be reached at 344-2559 or bbarker@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D2.