Who benefits from watered down math and science in school?

[Anonymous]

To the people that think that advancing kids in math and science is abuse:

Who are you fighting for? Who benefits from this?

[Anonymous]

it narrows the achievement gap

[Anonymous]

Me. Every time a kid learns less math, I eat a cookie

[Anonymous]

Historically, all western nations had or have the regular math classes of today, OP. Asian nations post WWII have had a more ambitious math program. What's changed for the USA is ACCELERATION. Which is great! My kids are both on accelerated tracks in MCPS. It makes them less bored in school.

Same for science. There has been a HUGE development of science classes at all grade levels and a HUGE STEM development at the college level in recent decades, because the West has realized it's getting further and further behind what researchers are uncovering in terms of scientific potential, and in terms of what certain Asian countries are doing.

- research scientist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the people that think that advancing kids in math and science is abuse:

Who are you fighting for? Who benefits from this?

The main beneficiaries are the kids who aren't smart or motivated enough to be in the top track, but still want the benefits of being in the top track. If your kid belongs in 8th grade Algebra, and you prevent all of the kids who belong in 7th grade Algebra from taking it until 8th, it makes your kid look better in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the people that think that advancing kids in math and science is abuse:

Who are you fighting for? Who benefits from this?

The main beneficiaries are the kids who aren't smart or motivated enough to be in the top track, but still want the benefits of being in the top track. If your kid belongs in 8th grade Algebra, and you prevent all of the kids who belong in 7th grade Algebra from taking it until 8th, it makes your kid look better in comparison.

This is the exact reason people want to dissolve AAP. Then they don't have to admit their kid didn't make it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the people that think that advancing kids in math and science is abuse:

Who are you fighting for? Who benefits from this?

Who said that?

[Anonymous]

Everyone because it's a race to the bottom

[Anonymous]

Long term - other countries that want to replace the US as a world leader, including some very not nice authoritarian regimes. Dumbing down of America is a tried and true tactic. Several conservative American politicians are in the pockets of these regimes. Conservatives will take their victory lap with a plush assignment from dear leader.

Short term - we will have lower outcomes across the board, so there will be an appearance of achieving equity, but we will have just lowered the bar. Liberals can take a victory lap.

[Anonymous]

AAP kids are embarrassed when, in math especially, they are outperformed by the General Ed kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long term - other countries that want to replace the US as a world leader, including some very not nice authoritarian regimes. Dumbing down of America is a tried and true tactic. Several conservative American politicians are in the pockets of these regimes. Conservatives will take their victory lap with a plush assignment from dear leader.

Short term - we will have lower outcomes across the board, so there will be an appearance of achieving equity, but we will have just lowered the bar. Liberals can take a victory lap.

They aren't doing this at my kid's AAP LIV. Do you know where exactly this happening? It sounds more like hysteria than reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the people that think that advancing kids in math and science is abuse:

Who are you fighting for? Who benefits from this?

I can’t take this seriously when you are that hyperbolic OP. Abuse? GTFO.

[Anonymous]

I think there is more hysteria than reality at this point, but I am concerned that there is far too much politics (on both sides of the aisle) creating untoward influence in education these days. It is all a distraction from truly teaching children. Remember the space race? America united around the need to better prepare students in science and math. What happened to that? We want to set the bar high and let in ALL kids that can meet it. That is good for America, and if you think America still represents something good, you should want all kids who can excel given that opportunity to excel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is more hysteria than reality at this point, but I am concerned that there is far too much politics (on both sides of the aisle) creating untoward influence in education these days. It is all a distraction from truly teaching children. Remember the space race? America united around the need to better prepare students in science and math. What happened to that? We want to set the bar high and let in ALL kids that can meet it. That is good for America, and if you think America still represents something good, you should want all kids who can excel given that opportunity to excel.

Sure in theory. The issue is in practice it's not about letting all kids that can do a class take the class; it's about letting all kids that WANT to take a class take it & then expecting the teacher to work miracles if they aren't prepared for it or then allowing the teacher/school to water down the class so that those struggling can do it.

It's frustrating for those that need more than the basics. I'm 45 & tracking was used when I was a kid. I'm a firm believer in it - yes to allowing additional options for kids to test in to the higher classes but I view the current approach of trying to dump kids of all the same ability levels into the same class as entirely the wrong direction.

Who wants this per OP's question? The schools do since it artificially makes the achievement gaps look better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is more hysteria than reality at this point, but I am concerned that there is far too much politics (on both sides of the aisle) creating untoward influence in education these days. It is all a distraction from truly teaching children. Remember the space race? America united around the need to better prepare students in science and math. What happened to that? We want to set the bar high and let in ALL kids that can meet it. That is good for America, and if you think America still represents something good, you should want all kids who can excel given that opportunity to excel.

Sure in theory. The issue is in practice it's not about letting all kids that can do a class take the class; it's about letting all kids that WANT to take a class take it & then expecting the teacher to work miracles if they aren't prepared for it or then allowing the teacher/school to water down the class so that those struggling can do it.

It's frustrating for those that need more than the basics. I'm 45 & tracking was used when I was a kid. I'm a firm believer in it - yes to allowing additional options for kids to test in to the higher classes but I view the current approach of trying to dump kids of all the same ability levels into the same class as entirely the wrong direction.

Who wants this per OP's question? The schools do since it artificially makes the achievement gaps look better.

I guess if they really did this but at least our AAP center classes aren't being watered down so no idea where this is coming from.