Posted on 09/01/2010 10:39:44 AM PDT by nmh
Hundreds of N.J. students who can't do simple math were credited with passing calculus, according to a report on APP.com.
According to a Department of Education report, "there were other students, unable ultimately to evidence even simple math skills, who were unimaginably recorded by their schools as succeeding in Algebra II or even Calculus."
A report delivered at today's state Board of Education meeting will recommend four new policies to aid students who weren't proficient enough in reading, writing or math to meet state graduation standards.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
So? I kicked arse in a lot of upper-level math classes, and I still multiply 3 and 3 and get 6, or forget to carry the one. It’s called carelessness brought on by complacency brought on by superior skillfulness.
Oh, wait, we’re talking about the normal people?
Do they still have to memorize the times-tables?
And bring back those epsilons and deltas, calculus’ little helpers!
Calculators have no place in a teaching environment. If they want to learn to use a calculator later, read the freakin’ manual. I could get behind allowing the use of a slipstick for classes after Algebra II.
At one time it was reported that A.E. really had trouble with the simple concepts. His thought process was so far advanced. I remember a newsreel purporting that he needed help with his taxes. Just saying.
Contrary to popular myth, Einstein was good at simple math.
We had ours in a private Christian school and NO calculators were allowed until middle school. Then the school went humanistically LIBERAL and we have her in another private school.
Our daughter is just wrapping up John Hopkins, CTY, Honors Pre Algebra and she is going into 6th grade. NO calculators are allowed and we don't allow them either. I am also a closet homeschooler so I don't allow that crap. You really have to make sure they know their stuff. More is on the parents today because the teachers are busy taking the easy way out.
We also stay with traditional math with some Singapore Math. What they have in public schools is GARBAGE and the GROUP THING stuff is dangerous. It erodes self confidence and individual responsibility.
In middle school, public schools no longer teach grammar. No! They are supposed to figure it out by reading LIBERAL books. When's the last time you read a book looking for what ann independent clause was in a book when you had never heard of an "independent clause"? It's insane. But it gives the teachers LESS WORK. Teahers LOVE group projects because that is LESS WORK.
G-d provided calculators when we were born...people need to start using them.
I wonder if this is partly due to changes in college admissions. When colleges embraced affirmative action in recruitment, they did so by establishing rules like accepting the top 5 percent of high school students etc. SAT or other third party assessments were abandoned as biased and high schools acquired a greater influence on which of their students went to college. Grade inflation in high schools really sky rocketed to give under performing or ‘strivers’ a chance at college. But the next step after high grades is to have the correct college prep courses. Enter calculus. I don’t believe there are high school proficiency tests for calculus like there are for basic math. So the proficiency tests turn out to be the watch dog here - exposing the false claims that high schools make to colleges regarding their students.
“Do they still have to memorize the times-tables?”
NO!
That’s why they allow calculators.
You see, kids learn in “different ways”.
I’m not kidding you.
>>I saw my old slide rule in my parents’ basement a few years ago, and couldn’t remember how to use it.<<
I’ve got two of them in the bookcase behind me and amazingly I can still use them .......... if I’m wearing my glasses. LOL
The NJ Education Secretary should be fired and put on unemployment.
Indeed, some people are able to understand higher level math concepts far more easily than they can do simple math. But, there have been other stories about schools in this state lying outright about student performance. This sounds like another one of those stories.
LOL
Saxon Math isn't too bad but moves at snails pace. When you get to Saxon 5/6 SKIP it and go on to Saxon 7/8.
Abeka is good and so is Singapore Math. When she was accepted by JH CTY program we went with that.
It's really up to you t do the timed drill and practice on math facts. They won't do it in school. Elementary years are when you form your math foundation. If they haven't mastered the four main operations, they will do poorly with more sophisticated math. THAT is guaranteed ad always be dependent on calculators. Much done in life involves estimating so it is important to be able to do basic math.
Dumb people are easier to govern...It was always illegal to school serfs, peons, slaves and commoners - as the ruling class considers us to be.
CALCULATORS would have been banned in school in my day. We had to learn multiplication tables, and that serves me well even today. Another sad omission by the “dumbthemdown” government schools is penmanship. Not only was that subject good for eye-hand coordination, it taught self discipline, neatness and an appreciation of beauty Children have been taught to be government dependent in public schools for the past 50 years. Fortunately many of their parents were better educated. If you think things are bad now, just wait until these kids are the parents!
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