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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]One thing has changed in the last 25-30 years.

In the early 1990s, not so many HS students were interested in STEM careers. Back then, business, law, and medicine were the main targets instead of STEM careers.

Since roughly the Dot-com boom/bust and the greater awareness about STEM jobs having good pay, more and more students are applying for college engineering programs, for college CS programs, and also (non-preMed) natural science degrees.

More parents then started to ask schools, public or private, about StEM preparation -- particularly math.  Yes, it is being used for marketing but the underlying change is student and parent interest in STEM careers.

And yes, many students still want business, law, or medicine. Those have not gone away. [/quote]

None of the stupid “steam, steam, or whatever” buzzword programs schools are doing are helpful- for any career.  Teaching kids actual math, actual science lessons, reading, how to write, spelling, grammar, history, how to put together coherent thoughts; that is what should be taught. This has all died away from schools.  Majority of 12th graders can’t do basic algebra anymore.  They need to stop putting a pile of legos, cardboard, iPads in front of kids and calling it school work/lessons.[/quote]

No, none of this is true!

The so-called advanced math taught in our schools is anachronistic and  it leaves far too many children out.  Math needs to be far more inclusive than as presently taught.  Not to mention: the expectations are set far too high and are unrealistic for many.[/quote]

Basic math- like reading, isn’t being taught well.  The kids that are advancing are in math are the ones being taught outside of school. While some middle schools offer kids the option to take Alg I and beyond, it’s bc of their outside instruction that they are able to place into these classes in 6th-8th grade and why the school offers them.  But this is a small minority of kids.  72% of 8th graders test below grade level in math nationally (which is considered prealgebra level).  In other words, schools are doing a terribly poor job educating in all core subjects [/quote]

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