Requiring Algebra II In High School Gains Momentum 490
ChadHurley writes with this quote from the Washington Post:
"Of all of the classes offered in high school, Algebra II is the leading predictor of college and work success, according to research that has launched a growing national movement to require it of graduates. In recent years, 20 states and the District have moved to raise graduation requirements to include Algebra II, and its complexities are being demanded of more and more students. The effort has been led by Achieve, a group organized by governors and business leaders and funded by corporations and their foundations, to improve the skills of the workforce. Although US economic strength has been attributed in part to high levels of education, the workforce is lagging in the percentage of younger workers with college degrees, according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development."
Re:Correlation is not Causation (Score:3, Interesting)
This was my thought. How was it not already required? I took it in 9th grade along with geometry. 10th was Pre-Calc & Trig. 11th was AP Calculus (one of 2 Juniors in the class) and senior year I drove to a community college for Statistics & Calculus II.
Although what we REALLY need a class on is "common sense" how to deal with money. Interest, balancing a 'checkbook'/banking account. Hell I'd settle for 'this is how you count back money.'
Re:Correlation is not Causation (Score:3, Interesting)
Although what we REALLY need a class on is "common sense" how to deal with money. Interest, balancing a 'checkbook'/banking account. Hell I'd settle for 'this is how you count back money.'
That's what Home Economics used to be...
Re:Correlation is not Causation (Score:4, Interesting)
I got that, along with "repair" level sewing, some cooking, and baking skills when I took Home Ec.
Being the only straight male in class with 24 females was just a bonus.
Re:Require more than Alg. 2.... (Score:2, Interesting)
+1
Over a decade ago, I took Algebra 2 in 9th grade and passed it with a B. In the 1950s, Russians were learning Calculus in 6th grade while US students were learning that "brushing your teeth is a good idea." Our primary schools are crap, "No Child Left Behind," as I understand, dumbs everything down for the smart ones and ensures that nobody has an opportunity to achieve their potential. I propose that we have a standardized exit exam. Once you pass, you can, but are not required to, attend at a university or trade school. For those that want to stay, they can take more advanced classes or go for a wider breadth of knowledge (music, art, history, drafting, electronics, auto shop, etc). For those that want to skip classes, they might consider taking the exit test and moving on with their life since they already think it's a waste of their time. On top of that, early exits reduce education costs and the savings can be given to the teachers that actually perform. $40k/year is not going to keep someone that could be making $90k/year otherwise.
Pre-Calculus as a requirement should be interchangeable with statistics. Statistics are far more likely to be used in business and industry. Calculus may be used if you're working with fluid dynamics or architecture, not for the average Joe. Even physics can be done with algebra and experimentation.
If we really want to teach science and engineering, it's time to throw out the curriculum and start building stuff in class using the books as what they were meant for - reference.
Re:No requirement will suffice... (Score:4, Interesting)
My wife substitute teaches at a local elementary school and this is my "cool story bro'" anecdotal evidence.
Schools CAN NOT fail students who are performing poorly. Failing an unruly, constant behavioral problem student, who refuses to do work and whose parents refuse to take any action at home, will only make the school's No Child Left Behind score go down and hurt their $$$. So the schools push these troublemakers on up the line.
"Specialists" do everything except fill in the bubble on the standardized tests to ensure that EVERY student passes. It is not about ensuring kids have learned what they're supposed to, or that they can perform at grade appropriate levels, it's all about making sure they PASS.
We're planning on switching over to home schooling next year or possibly the year after - or move to a different district. The local public school system is a sad, cruel joke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4pN-aiofw [youtube.com]
Alternative Suggestion (Score:4, Interesting)
To be frank, for most occupations Algebra II is simply not necessary, and most will forget it anyhow.
I suggest that Boolean logic, set theory, and basic statistics be required instead. Those are more applicable to the actual work world. As manufacturing drifts overseas and the US specializes in fads, marketing, and finance, "physical" math is less needed, while discrete and statistical math is replacing it as a need.
Re:Correlation is not causation (Score:3, Interesting)
Don't put down those fields. You would be absolutely amazed at how much MORE difficult those are than, say, getting a BS in computer science. Yes, I said it, MORE difficult.
You want to be a construction electrician, with the top end license? Here's the requirements:
- Approximately 5 years of experience in the field to get your journeyman's license. Until you have that, you cannot work alone (except in a building without power, I believe). You also cannot apply power to any circuits without them having been examined by a journeyman (this rule gets broken pretty quickly once you advance and are trusted, though). You *must* work in an industrial/construction environment. Those working in a residential or commercial environment need not apply (They get a lesser license that does not permit them to work outside of their environments).
- Attend college regularly during those 5 years to be able to pass your various exams so you can get your journeyman's license. I believe if you can pass them early, it's too bad, you get to sit in class anyways.
- To pass the exams, you will basically not only memorize the entire electrical code, but you will need to know exactly WHY the electrical code requires those things, and, of course, you'll need an in-depth understanding of electricity. Not in-depth electronics knowledge, though, so you won't be building a space shuttle or solving K-Maps. But in-depth enough to understand Kirchoffs law, Reactance in a multi-phase stystem, calculate instantaneous load (including instantaneous power factor), etc.
- Spend another minimum 3 years working as a journeyman, attending more classes in college so you can pass your masters exam.
So, after a minimum of 7 years (and, honestly, for anyone who wants this badly, it's going to be 10 years, I have never heard of anyone doing this in 7) you can get a full masters C&M electrician license and can then do any work anywhere anytime in any conditions. I tried to be a C&M electrician. It is unbelievably difficult (mentally and physically) and I guarantee 50% of any students at a university would fail the exams, and 95% (Who am I kidding!? 99%) would fail the work conditions. I passed the exams, but the work conditions were just to much, so I went back to working on computers.
To get a BS in computer science is easy in comparison. 2 2/3 years of classes and exams and you're done. You never actually need to *do* anything to prove your knowledge (of course, to get the Masters/PhD, you will need to).
I hear plumbing is somewhat easier, and auto mechanic work is probably somewhere in between, though. But people assume those in professional occupations like these aren't smart, and they're wrong. It's not easy to get those jobs, and it's not easy to pass the top-level exams, although the basic ones are, admittedly, easy.