Math, science not all kids should know

Capital Times ^ | 12-18-05 | Dave Zweifel

[ClaireSolt]

Not everyone has same interests and abilities. Both of my children are indifferent to social studies, even though they got a big dose with mother's milk.

[grayforkbeard]

Hmmm

I would skip on #6 and #7.

Send the kids home and let 'em play.

But I like the first 5 a lot.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Preparing our high school students for the rough and tumble of the job market is a noble cause, but I hope it isn't being done at the expense of making sure our graduates are prepared to do their duty as U.S. citizens, too.

Since high schools are not currently teaching either of these, what's the complaint?

[Sloth]

Off-topic, I realize, but the whole math & science bit is way overblown. Businesses do NOT want people competent in these areas, or I'd have been able to get a decent job sooner than two years after graduating college.

[sasafras]

"Do you know how fast you could get a degree in college if you weren't forced to take all that liberal arts/social sciences crap and could actually focus on your major? It must knock off at least a year..."

The problem is that its a racket funded by the govt. - if you recieve federal funds you have to have approval of the accrediting org. - the accreding org forces all these BS classes on students. The liberal arts stuff was important at one time when access to the information was limited but today we dont need these classes - if you want to learn about black studies or homosexuals in history you can do a google search. It past time that we students be required to have 60+ units in their major (not 30 as most schools require) and get rid of the liberal indoctrination crap.

[dfwgator]

People who do well in math and science tend to also do well on the other subjects. They are not mutually exclusive.

[-YYZ-]

Yes, kids also need to learn civics and English comprehension and composition and many other things besides the hard sciences. Problem is, it seems like far too many kids come out of school with little foundation in any of these subjects. But math and science skills are probably at the bottom of the barrel. BTW, to excel in any of those other subjects pretty much demands a strong foundation in English comprehension, at the least, since one is generally required to read and understand complicated texts, and to solve problems that are expressed in English.

When you look at the figures for the literacy levels of students leaving high school, and considering the relatively low expectations of the testing done, it is truly depressing.

[napscoordinator]

Thank God I don't have to go to your school. I would most certainly fail...LOL.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Tempe Prep is a world class school. Any graduate can expect to write their own ticket. The math and science give them the skills to earn the good life. The arts are the good life.

[Renegade]

Here's a great Science-History URL for you .

Merry Christmas !!

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/051219_mammoth_dna.html