Reply to Why the push for accelerated math?

Forum Index » Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

Reply to "Why the push for accelerated math?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I wanted to offer a different perspective with some anectodal data from the Midwest. Our HS school district is hardly the most competitive in the area, but ~50 seniors out of a class of ~750 took MV Calculus/Linear Algebra this past year after having taken Calculus AB or BC junior year. Approx. 4 seniors had already taken MVC/LA and either didn't take math this year or took higher math through college programs.

At the middle school level, 25 7th graders out of ~150 took Algebra 1 this year and two 7th graders took Geometry.

The vast majority of the kids on these tracks enjoy math and would be bored in lower level classes. Also, these kids run the gamut: some are passionate about math and seek out outside enrichment opportunities; others are high-level athletes and have other interests and are just really good at math.

It's curious that so many people on this thread are arguing about what is accelerated vs. normal when the real issue is that the arms race in math is unavoidable, especially with so many bright international students vying for a spot at US universities. The parents who are arguing that acceleration is a "race to nowhere" are rightly afraid that their children will struggle to keep up with the top of the class. But clearly, there are many American kids who can handle and even relish the opportunity to learn higher math alongside their peers in high school and middle school. America needs to keep offering these opportunities in order to keep up our global competitiveness. If kids can handle it (I'm all for testing in), let them accelerate. [/quote]

90% of students who take MV in high school will not actually need MV in their career. What is the fuss about? [/quote]
90% of students who take trigonometry in high school will not actually need trigonometry in their career.  What is the fuss about?[/quote]
90% of students who take Algebra 2 in high school will not actually need trigonometry in their career.  What is the fuss about?

Algebra 2 topics: polynomial arithmetic, complex numbers, rational and radical expressions, quadratic, and logarithmic functions. [/quote]

I tell my kid this all the time.  I needed the math to get into college, I needed the math to get into grad school, I needed the math on my transcripts to be eligible for my job/ career path, but in my job I rarely use any HS level math...
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics