In the community my niece lives in, they too have decided to do away with advanced math in the school her children attend. My nieces husband is a physics professor at an acclaimed university. Rather than just teach their son advanced math at home, he chose to teach advanced math after-school for all that want to attend. Good for him and all the others who will benefit.
Great column, Roger. My oldest daughter is a Harvard alum. I’ll make sure she sees it. The answer, of course, is to put resources into bringing the math education of all up to snuff, not to make all into under-performers. Be well, Paul
Always a fan of yours, Roger. Gladly found your blog over one quiet night. I read Buffett's The Making of an American Capitalist during my off time within a few days. After my family and I were stationed overseas for quite some time, I heard such a horror idea about the middle school math curriculum. So, I acquired the right to educate my child and let kids study at his speed, math is a language of science and a logical mind as many great Americans who came before us.
I have followed the academic competition, "PISA." or Programme for International Student Assessment. PISA measures children's ability to use their reading, mathematics, and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges around the world.
Alas! saw the US ranking was not in the top 5. I am quite disappointed! when we, all mothers from different countries talk about education, and share our background. Many Americans may argue that China drills their kids for tests as such they drill kids in the Olympics,...However, despite how much America spends on education when compared to GDP should means no less that we should be in the top 5.
This has been around for a long time. My grandfather was in trouble for too high of standards in his high school chemistry class - until Sputnik went up. Then he was teacher of the year.
I was in the DC schools finishing 9th grade when they dropped the college prep classes in the name of equity (I think around 1966). We moved out.
I did supplementation and had my daughter do math by correspondence when she was in middle school and after her freshman year at high school. While they did not give her credit, they did give her placement, so she took calculus when she was in 10th grade. She then dropped out and did early admissions to the state university, where she did her BS and MS in civil engineering.
If the schools are not going to teach the material, the educated parents are going to make sure that their kids have the material other ways - either doing it themselves, or hiring it. This opportunity is far less likely to be available to the children of the poorer parents. I have a BS in Physics and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, so I could handle the math and physical science oversight and tutoring as necessary.
This is both correct and extremely well written. Unfortunately, the attitude described -- a focus on educational "equality" leading to a decrease in educational opportunities -- has been around a long time, at least since I was in school, well before the current popularity of DEI. I used to get angry. Now I am just sad at human stupidity.
In the community my niece lives in, they too have decided to do away with advanced math in the school her children attend. My nieces husband is a physics professor at an acclaimed university. Rather than just teach their son advanced math at home, he chose to teach advanced math after-school for all that want to attend. Good for him and all the others who will benefit.
Great column, Roger. My oldest daughter is a Harvard alum. I’ll make sure she sees it. The answer, of course, is to put resources into bringing the math education of all up to snuff, not to make all into under-performers. Be well, Paul
Always a fan of yours, Roger. Gladly found your blog over one quiet night. I read Buffett's The Making of an American Capitalist during my off time within a few days. After my family and I were stationed overseas for quite some time, I heard such a horror idea about the middle school math curriculum. So, I acquired the right to educate my child and let kids study at his speed, math is a language of science and a logical mind as many great Americans who came before us.
I have followed the academic competition, "PISA." or Programme for International Student Assessment. PISA measures children's ability to use their reading, mathematics, and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges around the world.
Alas! saw the US ranking was not in the top 5. I am quite disappointed! when we, all mothers from different countries talk about education, and share our background. Many Americans may argue that China drills their kids for tests as such they drill kids in the Olympics,...However, despite how much America spends on education when compared to GDP should means no less that we should be in the top 5.
As quoted from https://educationdata.org/public-education-spending...
Public education spending in the United States falls short of global benchmarks and lags behind economic growth; K-12 schools spend $794.7 billion.
Best regards, Yulie
This has been around for a long time. My grandfather was in trouble for too high of standards in his high school chemistry class - until Sputnik went up. Then he was teacher of the year.
I was in the DC schools finishing 9th grade when they dropped the college prep classes in the name of equity (I think around 1966). We moved out.
I did supplementation and had my daughter do math by correspondence when she was in middle school and after her freshman year at high school. While they did not give her credit, they did give her placement, so she took calculus when she was in 10th grade. She then dropped out and did early admissions to the state university, where she did her BS and MS in civil engineering.
If the schools are not going to teach the material, the educated parents are going to make sure that their kids have the material other ways - either doing it themselves, or hiring it. This opportunity is far less likely to be available to the children of the poorer parents. I have a BS in Physics and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, so I could handle the math and physical science oversight and tutoring as necessary.
"Those who attempt to level, never equalize".
This is both correct and extremely well written. Unfortunately, the attitude described -- a focus on educational "equality" leading to a decrease in educational opportunities -- has been around a long time, at least since I was in school, well before the current popularity of DEI. I used to get angry. Now I am just sad at human stupidity.