Posted on 05/13/2008 7:03:24 AM PDT by reaganaut1
Five years ago, California took a bold step and began requiring algebra of every graduating high school senior. The grumbling ran deep. The work was hard. The underlying equation came through loud and clear:
More math in high school would equal more students prepared for college.
For many, it hasn't added up.
In a pattern that has area math professors scratching their heads, some community colleges are seeing an increase in the numbers and proportions of entering students who can't do algebra, or even basic arithmetic.
At Sierra College in Rocklin, for example, of the 199 sections of math being taught this year, 68 of them – 34 percent – are arithmetic, pre-algebra or beginning algebra. Most students seeking a two-year or four-year degree must master those levels of math and in many cases go beyond.
Five years ago, the percentage of remedial math courses at Sierra was 28 percent.
Last year at Cosumnes River College in Elk Grove, 40.8 percent of incoming students who took a math placement exam tested into arithmetic or pre-algebra, up from 38.1 percent two years earlier. The proportion of courses in beginning algebra, pre-algebra and arithmetic at Cosumnes has marched steadily upward, from 43 percent in 2003 to almost 52 percent this year.
"It's the million-dollar question," said Mary Martin, math department chair at Cosumnes. "We are asking more of our high school students, so why isn't it transferring over to college?"
California high schools have responded to the monumental task of getting students through algebra, Martin and other math professors say, but the push is falling short.
It has educators concerned because algebra is considered a key subject for developing critical thinking skills. It provides the language and foundation for numerous fields, from nursing to the sciences to architecture.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Sending unqualified people to college wastes their time and the taxpayer's money.
Algebra is not just for college geeks.
Check the textbooks. Typical math problem today: “Rainforests are being cut down faster than ever. How do you feel about that?”
You have got to be kidding me! It's been quite sometime since I was in high school but back then every student had to take algebra and most of us took calculus.
So what *is* required for a level of mathematics for graduating high school these days? Counting on fingers!
It’s not “fair.”
I like algebra. Never could understand why anyone wouldn’t.
No, but anyone with a normal or even slightly lower than normal IQ is capable of algebra. If you can’t do algebra, you can’t figure out the price per ounce of a product, the amount that your bank balance is incorrect by, or the fastest way to get from point a to point b.
From South Park ... “how do I reach these kiiiiids?”
Yep, and it started freshman year, too. At least back in 1977.
That people can leave school without knowledge of any of these subjects is astounding.
The NEA is permitted to set educational criteria and determine “success” and we wonder why kids can’t add?? Maybe they just aren’t feeling good about themselves. Or perhaps the tests are racially biased...you know, asking for actual results.
The problem never was the inability to do algebra in high school. The problem is that students are no longer required to learn the basic "math facts" - 2+3=5, 14-7=7, 7x9=63, etc., etc. Students had calculators to do that "simple" math, don't you know?!
Now they're in college and/or the workplace and they can't tell if higher-level mathematics problems are correct because they can't do the basic math calculations in their heads.
***In a pattern that has area math professors scratching their heads, some community colleges are seeing an increase in the numbers and proportions of entering students who can’t do algebra, or even basic arithmetic. ***
That is why they invented hand held calculators. duh
That would require basic algebra.
The NEA is dedicated to the dumbing down of America.
Diversity uber alles. The sky is falling (GW). Wealth is evil.
This is the lesson plan of the NEA. Math, reading, history... all that stuff is trash-canned.
The NEA is trying to put YOUR child’s brain in a lock-box.
A major reason some folks who earned $25,000 a year went out and got $400,000 mortgages is because they figured they could make the numbers work. They just didn't know any better, because no one ever taught them.
I reject the premise that having public school teachers teach algebra leads to increased knowledge of algebra.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A UNION WHOSE FOCUS IS ON RAISING MONEY FOR THE DNC,AND PUTTING UNQUALIFIED DUPES IN TENURE SO THEY CAN GET OFF THE TEACHING BLOCK TO WRITE THEIR DOCTORATE.TAKE YOUR KIDS OUT OF UNION SCHOOLS,YOU WILL THANK YOURSELF FOR THE FINANCIAL SACRIFICE OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOL LATER. I DID
A long time since I was in school too but we had to take one yr of either algebra or geometry, our choice.
I chose geometry and found out I sucked at spacial equations.
I took algebra when I started college and absolutely loved it.
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