[Think free or die]

"I'm not against advanced Math courses especially for those with the gift for it. I am against making it mandatory at a high school level for students who would be served far better in basic fundamental Math courses. For Voc/Tech students half their sophmore and all their junior and senior year should be strictly vocational courses {I recommend taking two} focused with a goal of Co-op program the senior year. My senior year of high school I was working an 8-5 full time job. Being versitle and adaptable to both your employers needs and the job market will go a long ways. I've done several skilled professions including OTR truck driving at one point.

I teach high school science, and I agree with you. My third track chemistry students are required to pass chem to graduate, but most of them are not really capable of making the connections or doing the math. It's very frustrating for them and for me. Most do their best, but it's only by 'cooking the books' that many of them pass the course. Many would be better served by a vocationally oriented course where they could learn skills that they will actually use. I don't like to pretend, but if they are working hard and truly not equipped to understand, I can't in good conscience fail 2/3 of the class. Inflexible policies put many people into situations which lead to dishonest grading and waste of time and resources.

[cva66snipe]

I teach high school science, and I agree with you. My third track chemistry students are required to pass chem to graduate, but most of them are not really capable of making the connections or doing the math. It's very frustrating for them and for me. Most do their best, but it's only by 'cooking the books' that many of them pass the course. Many would be better served by a vocationally oriented course where they could learn skills that they will actually use. I don't like to pretend, but if they are working hard and truly not equipped to understand, I can't in good conscience fail 2/3 of the class. Inflexible policies put many people into situations which lead to dishonest grading and waste of time and resources.

By today's standards I would not have made it out of high school. I was class of 1976. The Voc/Tech movement was just starting to take off in my state at that point. My high school Voc/Tech training got me the job in the Navy I wanted and made training me for it once I got to the ship a lot faster than ones I later trained who had no training. I also did well in history except when I got a draw a map loving teacher LOL. Science? I was walking around with a pocket transistor radio I had build myself. Chemistry? Uh OK I made wine in my bedroom :>} {a major offense today} Gym? I couldn't do too well especially in the required mile run. I could swim all day though and could have likely out hiked the Gym Teacher LOL.