How a Florida math teacher turns smart kids into champions

[Anonymous]

They seem to do well in Latin, too: https://alachuachronicle.com/frazer-school-has-successful-debut-at-regional-latin-forum/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suppose if you recruit the children of university professors on the basis of test scores, you will probably get a good math team. Private schools do this all of the time.

plenty of college towns have worse math teams, not to mention that it's not as if university professors suddenly popped into existence when Frazer started teaching the math team. Therefore, this doesn't really explain their success. The secret is, at least for top students, eschewing the procrustean approach to math that schools practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like one of those private boarding schools for athletes. IMG Academy only for math competitions.

It's interesting as far as that goes, but neither one is a particularly useful model for schools that educate a broad range of kids for outcomes other than success in competitions.

The difference is that there are many schools with sports teams close to the level of IMG academy, but none with the same level of dominance as this Florida school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm impressed by the moxie of a public school employee hosting a private in person class for public school students while schools were officially locked down.

A retired bond trader has oodles of cash so if they are fired they don’t need the teachers salary.

And it’s Florida.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like one of those private boarding schools for athletes. IMG Academy only for math competitions.

It's interesting as far as that goes, but neither one is a particularly useful model for schools that educate a broad range of kids for outcomes other than success in competitions.

The difference is that there are many schools with sports teams close to the level of IMG academy, but none with the same level of dominance as this Florida school.

There is a lot more money and clearer path to college recruitment in sports. Winning math competitions may help admissions, but you are competing against all the other academic standouts, and there is no college employee personally recruiting and shepherding your admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I support charter funding. These kids would be neglected in public school.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like one of those private boarding schools for athletes. IMG Academy only for math competitions.

It's interesting as far as that goes, but neither one is a particularly useful model for schools that educate a broad range of kids for outcomes other than success in competitions.

The difference is that there are many schools with sports teams close to the level of IMG academy, but none with the same level of dominance as this Florida school.

There is a lot more money and clearer path to college recruitment in sports. Winning math competitions may help admissions, but you are competing against all the other academic standouts, and there is no college employee personally recruiting and shepherding your admission.

being a top X student in math is better than being a top X student in athletics for elite college admissions and long term career success, even with recruiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suppose if you recruit the children of university professors on the basis of test scores, you will probably get a good math team. Private schools do this all of the time.

plenty of college towns have worse math teams, not to mention that it's not as if university professors suddenly popped into existence when Frazer started teaching the math team. Therefore, this doesn't really explain their success. The secret is, at least for top students, eschewing the procrustean approach to math that schools practice.

The secret is that you spend a lot of time practicing for math competitions, same as any other competitive endeavor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I support charter funding. These kids would be neglected in public school.

These kids would be in Algebra 1 H in 7th grade in FCPS and on the Mathcounts team. FCPS MS and one ES placed 5 teams into the State Mathcounts competition. They would be just fine in FCPS public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I support charter funding. These kids would be neglected in public school.

These kids would be in Algebra 1 H in 7th grade in FCPS and on the Mathcounts team. FCPS MS and one ES placed 5 teams into the State Mathcounts competition. They would be just fine in FCPS public schools.

Their parents would be paying for RSM/Curie/AOPS after school after the kids sleep through Algebra 1 class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like one of those private boarding schools for athletes. IMG Academy only for math competitions.

It's interesting as far as that goes, but neither one is a particularly useful model for schools that educate a broad range of kids for outcomes other than success in competitions.

The difference is that there are many schools with sports teams close to the level of IMG academy, but none with the same level of dominance as this Florida school.

There is a lot more money and clearer path to college recruitment in sports. Winning math competitions may help admissions, but you are competing against all the other academic standouts, and there is no college employee personally recruiting and shepherding your admission.

being a top X student in math is better than being a top X student in athletics for elite college admissions and long term career success, even with recruiting.

Essentially 0 students have this choice. Individuals play to their natural strengths and environmental advantages.