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



John,

I would venture to guess that the students in your private prep school probably are more likely to be at the formal operational level than those in average public schools, so your 30% estimate may be a bit high.

Mark Shapiro


-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of John Clement
Sent: Sun 7/13/2008 7:17 AM
To: 'Forum for Physics Educators'
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Ca mandates 8th-grade algebra test

According to Shayer & Adey students need to be at the formal operational
level to be able to understand a 3 variable equation such as F=ma. Since
only about 30% of US students are capable of understanding proportionality
when they are seniors in HS, algebra is literally impossible for most
students even in HS. Pushing advanced abstract concepts down to lower
grades is absurd when students do not understand proportional reasoning or
conservation reasoning.

Incidentally the 30% figure comes from my testing of students in a college
prep private school in Houston.

If this seems a bit late on the topic, it is because I have been on a river
boat tour of Russia for 2 weeks.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX



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



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