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Re: [Phys-l] Ca mandates 8th-grade algebra test



Dear Colleagues,

While it would be nice if all eighth-grade students could master algebra, I think this is a very unrealistic goal. Algebra actually is a fairly abstract subject, if taught correctly, and many high-school students don't have the abstract reasoning skills necessary to understand the concepts.

These students would be better served, in my opinion, by math courses that are of a more practical nature.

The push for "algebra for everyone" comes from those who believe that everyone needs to have a college degree to be successful.

Mark


-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of Wes Davis
Sent: Thu 7/10/2008 10:13 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Ca mandates 8th-grade algebra test

and, because they have 'passed' Algebra I in 8th grade, they move through
the math classes in HS, arriving in AP Calculus operating on an Algebra I
level.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Yeend" <ryeend@sbcglobal.net>
To: "Forum for Physics Educators" <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Cc: "Nancy Seese" <nancyseese@redshift.com>; "Sharing resources for high
school physics" <PHYSHARE@lists.psu.edu>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:03 AM
Subject: [Phys-l] Ca mandates 8th-grade algebra test


As a high school math and science teacher, I think the push of
algebra into grade school is one of the major mistakes of education.

I once substituted a sixth grade standard math class in which the
topic for the week was algebraic inequalities - talk about absurd!

IMHO, this is the major reason so many students arrive at high school
functionally innumerate.

Bob Yeend
Justin-Siena H.S.
Napa, CA

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