Eliminating accelerated math classes in high school is just the first step on the road to an education disaster

American Thinker ^ | 27 Jun, 2021 | Marie Richter

[MtnClimber]

Parents are waking up to the scam in education called critical race theory. The dismantling of high school math courses demands the same attention.

It is really a struggle to imagine what the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has in mind by discussing the elimination of accelerated math classes in schools until 11th grade in the name of equity. The story broke in April 2021and shortly thereafter, the VDOE leadership was backpedaling due to parent backlash. “Absolutely, acceleration is NOT going away in mathematics courses in Virginia, if a student needs an accelerated pathway they will absolutely get it,” said Superintendent Dr. James Lane.

So, exactly what is meant by an “accelerated pathway”? It’s obviously not an advanced or accelerated course or classroom. This sounds confusingly similar to the malarkey being proffered by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recommending students find their ways on common pathways to learn Essential Concepts.

The NCTM and VDOE initiatives lack discussion on structure, sequence, topics, courses, classrooms, and advancement and most important, how the cornerstones of high school math -- algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus – will survive the restructuring.

What is really happening is a rare reveal of liberal orthodoxy exposed in the sausage-making process. I doubt the ideas are going away, they just won’t resurface until better disguised.

[aquila48]

[bobbo666]

If you are struggling to understand, you are not paying attention. Perhaps you should step aside and let one of the alert students in the class speak.
They are prattling gibberish in the hope that those who could defeat them either step aside or fall asleep. They are destroying so they can “rebuild better”. Like going for “unity” while continuing to spread lies and hate. Same game, different playground. Their only goal is power, and then destroy.

[grey_whiskers]

At universities, examinations must be framed so that nearly all the students get good marks. Entrance examinations must be framed so that all, or nearly all, citizens can go to universities, whether they have any power (or wish) to profit by higher education or not. At schools, the children who are too stupid or lazy to learn languages and mathematics and elementary science can be set to doing things that children used to do in their spare time. Let, them, for example, make mud pies and call it modelling. But all the time there must be no faintest hint that they are inferior to the children who are at work. Whatever nonsense they are engaged in must have — I believe the English already use the phrase — “parity of esteem.” An even more drastic scheme is not pos- sible. Children who are fit to proceed to a higher class may be artifi- cially kept back, because the others would get a trauma — Beelzebub, what a useful word! — by being left behind. The bright pupil thus remains democratically fettered to his own age group throughout his school career, and a boy who would be capable of tackling Æschylus or Dante sits listening to his coeval's attempts to spell out A CAT SAT ON A MAT.

For “democracy” or the “democratic spirit” (diabolical sense) leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of the cocksureness which flattery breeds on ignorance, and quick to snarl or whimper at the first sign of criticism. And that is what Hell wishes every democratic people to be. For when such a nation meets in conflict a nation where children have been made to work at school, where talent is placed in high posts, and where the ignorant mass are allowed no say at all in public affairs, only one result is possible.

-- C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Proposes A Toast

[BobL]

“The were many steps, but I believe the most damaging was Carter’s creation of the Department of Education.”

That was the KEY STEP in bringing down our educational system. Before that, they had 50 states to deal with and only so many Leftists available for the cause. But yea, we lost what remained that day.

...but what the heck, public school is ‘free’, so who cares!

[aquila48]

“And that is what Hell wishes every democratic people to be. For when such a nation meets in conflict a nation where children have been made to work at school, where talent is placed in high posts, and where the ignorant mass are allowed no say at all in public affairs, only one result is possible. “

I keep saying that when China, Russia or Islam, bad as they are, finally take over this insane asylum, it will be an improvement.

[KarlInOhio]

Members of public school boards that eliminate accelerated math classes in high schools are giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States.

I tnink they are the enemies. Russia and China are giving aid and comfort to them.

[aquila48]

“I don’t think the liberals are going to stop.”

They are as relentless as we are compliant and spineless.

And that’s why they’re beating the crap out of us in this culture war.

[RideForever]

I guess the question to ask is this. If advanced math is no longer taught in schools, why do teachers need a college degree to teach?

[NetAddicted]

Peruse later.

[BipolarBob]

forcing you to think logically, mathematics are important. accelerated are important to physics. S.T.E.M.

We can just outsource those things. No need for our kids to have to go through that.

/sarc

[ConservativeInPA]

Virginia’s workshopping material not only tables advanced math until 11th grade, but proposes replacing algebra and geometry-centric courses with generic, heterogeneous grade content courses labeled Essential Concepts 8, 9, and 10 followed by Advanced Concepts 11 and 12. Proponents state that revisions are driven by the need to add more data analytics and relevant experiences into math classes.

Three points: 1.) When so-called educators hide the contents of classes with ambiguous names it is dead give away that they are teaching crap. 2.) "Essential Concepts" courses are just a regurgitation of previously taught material. Just a little logic proves this. There is only so much mathematics to learned prior to moving in more advance mathematics. We're talking about years of the same math being presented over and over again (probably with advanced woke-ism and critical race theory as the only additions) because they are not teaching more advanced math. That will bore students to death and turn them off to math. Doing the same useless crap over and over again is boring to most people. 3.) I see no overt indication that additional rigor has been added to this math curriculum. If anyone wants to excel at anything, it requires a more rigorous treatment. Essential = Basic. Basic != Excellence. This only continues leftist educators' assault in dumbing down yet another general students.

[ArcadeQuarters]

Limit the smartest kids for equality!

[Senator_Blutarski]

Equity: Special education for all.

This is “crabs in a bucket” as they drag everyone down and make sure no one excels.

[KC Burke]

I got on an early 60s accelerated math track in ‘63. I was in the lower half of performers in that track but still learned thinking that was useful my whole life. In the 60s having finished two algebra, one trig, one geometry, one logic and calculus prior to your second semester junior year of high school really put me ahead of the game. College calc two years later still busted my brain.

[Mr. Jeeves]

“For “democracy” or the “democratic spirit” (diabolical sense) leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of the cocksureness which flattery breeds on ignorance, and quick to snarl or whimper at the first sign of criticism.”

Lewis saw BLM coming.

[PGR88]

My kids’ former school isn’t leftist, but its full of lazy, over-paid, disinterested, bureaucratic educrats

They are getting rid of advanced courses because, I believe, out of sheer laziness.

[LibertarianLiz]

They are getting rid of advanced courses because, I believe, out of sheer laziness.

I have often wondered if they are getting rid of the advanced courses because the "teachers" don't understand the stuff themselves; and, cannot do advanced work themselves.

How do you teach when you don't understand the material yourself. I don't disagree with your "laziness" comment; but, I think that it might also be a problem with the teacher not knowing or understanding the material so that they can't teach it.

[The Great RJ]

Our public school have become failure factories.

[Skepolitic]

At some point, the enrollment of one’s children in government schools becomes tantamount to child abuse.

Personally I think we’re long past that point.

I can only hope more and more parents wake up to the fact that the government school system seeks to destroy the intellectual potential of their children rather than nurturing it.

[CodeToad]

First step?? It is one of the final steps.