My HS math teacher used to tell underperforming students that there were plenty of jobs as gas station attendants for those who couldn't hack it. This was when that first Steve Martin movie was popular. He would never get away with that today.
Posted on 06/08/2020 1:07:08 PM PDT by karpov
When it comes to math performance, the United States has a pitiful record. Each year, about 1 million students enroll in college algebra and about 50 percent of those students fail to earn a “C” or better.
And according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S. considerably underperforms in high school math on an international level. In the OECD’s 2018 Program for International Student Assessment, the United States was outperformed by 36 countries, including China, Russia, Italy, France, Finland, Poland, and Canada.
In North Carolina, 26 percent of UNC system students earned a “D,” “F,” or “W” (a withdrawal) in mathematics and statistics courses between fall 2015 and spring 2018.
But instead of investigating ways to improve math education, North Carolina university leaders have decided to create alternate “pathways” for students who are less math-minded. According to UNC administrators, gateway and entry-level math courses—like college algebra—are “stumbling blocks” for too many students.
To get more students through entry-level math classes, in early 2018, the UNC system established the UNC System Math Pathways Task Force, a system-wide initiative to change general education math requirements to make them more “applicable and equitable.”
But, like so many of the initiatives the academic staff in the system office push forward, the Math Pathways task force’s recommendations are a de facto lowering of standards.
Of course, UNC’s academic staff don’t see the proposed changes as a lowering of standards. They argue that classes like college algebra simply don’t “align” with many students’ career goals. Why, for example, should drama or history students have to grapple with something as “irrelevant” as algebra?
(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...
“....Today’s Students, unless they see the benefit ….”
More likely because it requires real effort!
“....Today’s Students, unless they see the benefit ….”
More likely because it requires real effort!
Why algebra?
read this
The esoteric stuff I mentioned is like, "unit A has 12 blocks, Unit B has 6..."
“The world needs ditch diggers too.”
Actually not nearly as much as 50 or so years ago. Today’s tiny and huge excavators make dirt throw up the white flag.
In civilized countries muscle power is not in high demand.
I was a ditch digger.... Made more money than my Dad, who was an engineer...
Ahh...then we completely agree!
Let me plug this book some more.
Its not a math book!
Its actually more of a history book written in a very readable style.
The author is someone many are familiar with here - John Derbyshire. Who not only is a political writer but has a degree in mathematics.
The reality is that most schools below the college level have teachers that teach math. But they are not teachers that understand math. And so the students need to learn it on their own. Or they need to go on line where there are lots of Math classes for free, like Khan Academy. Most US teachers were not good at math. And the people who are good at math can easily find a better job.
My last daughter took her AP calc and Multi variable classes in high school. The teacher just handed out worksheets assuming the students would figure it out. He taught nothing. Most of the class was Asian and male.
They will put in the effort if they see the reward
their are a lot lazy students but they are on drugs or totally disconnected
Most people have today have to be “entertained” before you can get their attention for anything let alone learning.
I read a book 25-30 years ago called “Amusing Ourselves to Death”. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Looking back, I now think that author had some valid points.
Here’s the book, its been re-published now 2005 edition.
When my eldest daughter was going to Catholic elementary school, she had an algebra course in 7th or 8th grade, 8th, I think. Anyway, she went on to a Catholic HS; but one girl from her class switched over to a public HS.
When this girl was signing up for classes, the woman put her into an algebra I course. She told her that she had already taken that in her 8th grade class. The administrative type replied: "The 8th grade mind simply cannot understand those concepts."
So, this girl had to retake Algebra while my daughter continued on with the next step.
10 years late, others were writing about this earlier, looks like he picked some of them, repackaged, and glitzed them .. this started in the 80s maybe as early as 76
I started high school in 1952 they lowered the math requirements that year in Oklahoma Schools.
My HS math teacher used to tell underperforming students that there were plenty of jobs as gas station attendants for those who couldn't hack it. This was when that first Steve Martin movie was popular. He would never get away with that today.
Not trying to be snarky here at all just a fact. Most store will have prices posted with price per Oz in the fine print, even on Amazon. Just making life easier for the lower end of the scale I guess.
I might even remember how to calculate a cube root, but I am certainly not going to when much easier methods are available. Even Apple Watch can give me an answer through Siri, if I actually had an Apple Watch, which I don't but wife and kids do.
He’s shooting cans! He must hate cans!
Late in the 19 Century, a high school student sat at the kitchen table working on a calculus problem. He eventually solved it, and it was about airflow over a curved surface. He was Orvile Wright and he and his brother Wilbur eventually used that solution to fly the first powered aircraft several years later. How many of our students could do that today?
I graduated HS in 1960. Basic requirements included 2 semesters of Algebra and at least one of Geometry or Trig.
Many cashiers in stores today wouldn’t even know how to give you change, much less count it back to you, without their computer showing the amount.
Get rid of teachers’ unions, which protect inept instructors.
Most colleges and universities today have to offer remedial and basic classes in math and reading, which are typically set at a high school (or in some cases, even earlier.)
When I was in community college, I worked as a math tutor, but in every case, my students were people who had either dropped out of high school, or had been away from math for 20+ years or more.
I will say that helping a 40 year old understand math was very gratifying. For incoming freshman at real universities, it’s depressing as hell.
Mark
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