They shouldn’t drop it. Offer the remedial math necessary to build up to it. I aced all my math classes in college and all I had to begin with was a 9th grade education over 25 years before, prior to going to college. I enjoyed the algebra..fun puzzles, but I struggled with the college level algebra. I maintained a strait D average throughout the class. I struggled with the instructors approach, it didn’t work for me. Plus, I had a concussion from a car accident so my brain wasn’t wanting to do the arobics necessary to grasp it.
But I sought tutoring, worked hard, and pulled a B on the final exam.
I am not a math person as I struggled with it all my school years, but if I can do it, others can too. The just might need some prep and some tutoring. Intermediate was fairly easy. Got an A in that.
The mental gymnastics required for an older woman of less than highschool formal teaching is work with a capital W. But the satisfaction gained, as well as the additional skills was rewarding. By taking it away, they steal that reward and sense of accomplishment.
The real problem is lack of stimulation during the growing years. There seems to be a cultural instance on being dim whitted. Only a few really boost their kids to be hungry for learning, and stimulate them during those formative years.
If folks can’t handle college or university level classes, they simply don’t belong there. But don’t Rob those who can do it.
I hear ya...something similar happened to me in college. School required frosh to take science credits. Choices were chemistry, physics or biology. Since I had done so well in Chemistry in HS, I opted for chemistry.
Unbeknownst to me, Chemistry 101 was FULL of science majors from biology and physics majors, who had to get Chem 101 to get their required major.
So there I was, the *only* student who did not have a large science background. Most everything went right over my head; I was a fish out of water; The professor did not slow down the pace for lil’ ole me...she kept up the fast pace for the others science majors. At one point, I was failing the course; but ended up with a B-; that was b/c I prayed a lot. :)
No, now that I recall, it was my A in the lab portion that pulled my grade up. That was it.