The discussion was not about CUTTING math classes but rather making a SECOND year of algerba mandatory. Several posters commented that the additional math would boost DROPOUT rates.
If you are not a math/science person why not stop at one year of algreba?
Yes I know, which is why I include the line "I don't think that making math requirements or english requirements a little tougher is a bad thing at all. "
What if someone just isn't a "communications" person? Does that mean that they shouldn't take any English classes? No. The fact of the matter is that communication is an important skill that is vital to almost all jobs.
In the same way, math/critical thinking is an important skill that appears in most jobs.
Honestly, I don't think there is even a point to high school if it doesn't teach you math/critical thinking and communication skills. If a person isn't willing to work on either of these skill sets, they would probably be better off just dropping out and getting a job (although I can't think of a prevelent job that doesn't use either of these in some way).
What if a person isn't planning on becoming a historian or an artist (most people)? Why should they have to take history or art classes? If we are worried that students are taking to many classes that don't have any real life applicability, we should be focusing on these classes. Not math or English classes.
People need to ask themselves the question "what is the purpose of high school?" then we need to ask the question "does this change help or hinder high schools ability to achieve this purpose?".
And if your answer to the first question is something similar to "Graduate the most amount of students, regardless of how much the students learn", then you should rethink your answer, because this answer is incorrect.
-- Edited by amazing on Wednesday 6th of April 2011 03:19:21 PM
You mean it isn't required? Graduation from high school ought to mean something, and ought to prepare you for college.
WHY?! Our education system was not set up so that everyone goes to college.
We should prepare people for where they're going in life- and that is not necessarily college. And there is nothing wrong with that. My dad would never have graduated high school if he had to do algebra II, and he is one of the smartest people I know. He became a master plumber in his early 20s and started and successfully ran his own company for years. He was also a union president. He just doesn't have, and never has had, the patience to sit and do something that requires pencil to paper. And that is FINE. He has been a successful and productive adult. Why shouldn't we encourage THAT instead of pretending like everyone is destined to go to college?
And even those of us in college don't necessarily need Alg II...
The discussion was not about CUTTING math classes but rather making a SECOND year of algerba mandatory. Several posters commented that the additional math would boost DROPOUT rates.
If you are not a math/science person why not stop at one year of algreba?
And everyone should learn to play the piano, paint an oil portrait, repair a car engine, and earn at least a brown belt in a martial art to graduate high school! Everyone is the same and should be educated the same way.
No wonder the country is floundering. The people making educational policy are themselves idiots.
If people think that high school requirements are too tough, well there are much more obvious classes that should be put on the chopping block before math classes.
Is history really a necessary class for the vast majority of jobs? No way.
Art classes? How many people in the world actually become artists? Not many.
How about P.E.? I doubt it. (although helping kids become healthier is a good thing)
I would argue that the two most important skills that consistantly appear in most jobs are communication skills as well as math/critical thinking skills. I feel like the main purpose of high school should be to teach students these skills; so I don't think that making math requirements or english requirements a little tougher is a bad thing at all.
-- Edited by amazing on Tuesday 5th of April 2011 09:14:35 PM
You mean it isn't required? Graduation from high school ought to mean something, and ought to prepare you for college.
However, there ought to be more practical high school tracks that are not stigmatized. Trade schools for budding plummers, electricians, automechanics, builder's etc. ought to be offered with appropriate math / science for the trade, and basic literacy, ability to write / read basic contracts. Some basic history, government, and economics ought to go along with it to try to instill citizenship. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to require passing a citizenship exam to graduate from any form of high school.
In Finland, only the highest track students graduate from the high schools that send kids on to college. Trade schools take the other students. However, trade schools graduates do not lack social esteem, and teachers are highly esteemed. Finnish schools are generally considered to be exceptional. My source is my Finnish significant other.
And everyone should learn to play the piano, paint an oil portrait, repair a car engine, and earn at least a brown belt in a martial art to graduate high school! Everyone is the same and should be educated the same way.
No wonder the country is floundering. The people making educational policy are themselves idiots.
It's been like this in Michigan for a few years now. I go back and see my old math teachers and they're pulling their hair out. Kids are just dropping out because they can't pass Alg II and honestly- why should they have to? There's nothing necessary for every day life in Alg II. Let kids take Alg I, Geo, and then a life math. THAT would be far more beneficial than making them take and flunk Alg II. My high school used to have 6 sections of Calc I and 3 sections of Calc II. We're down to half that- and even more kids- because those teachers times have been redirected to teaching Alg II parts A and B. They had to split up Alg II into 2 years because so many kids could't pass it. It's ridiculous.
Other than raising the general math consciousness of as many citizens as possible, its pretty useless for the majority. Though, the same rationalization applies to a lot of the humanities, come to think of it.
Encourage those who are good in math to take it, whether they currently have college ambitions are not. Maybe they'll develop them.
I don't know, it's pretty much already a requirement for students who want to go to college (other than a community college). Some students struggle just to graduate high school, so this might hurt them.
Clearly, it's essential for those on the college bound track. One of my sons has gone through all of the Calculus classes for his major, and another non-math major has to have Pre-Calc to graduate.
I wonder if is it essential for everyone?
I am a little math-phobic. When I went to college this class was not required. I see how the fact that I didn't have it held me back from certain majors and career tracks. I am good at practical math, though.
I see this class as being one that could cause a lot of students to not finish their requirements for graduation, if they are already struggling with math.
