It is intensely process oriented. In new new-math classrooms, children work collaboratively in groups to explore different approaches to problems. Creativity and communication are as important as right answers. In fact, it discourages all direct instruction, repetition and memory work. These are thought to deaden interest in learning.
New math comes from the United States.
It was never widely tested before being introduced around a decade ago. It was supposed to improve American kids' poor performance on international test scores, even though high-scoring countries don't use anything resembling it. In most of Canada, new new math is becoming more entrenched even as it's being repealed in much of the United States. In California, parents rose up in revolt and forced the school system to back off. Last month, New York Schools Chancellor Harold Levy was forced to reassure parents that new new math is out and traditional math is in again.