Reply to Why the push for accelerated math?

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[quote=Anonymous][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...
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Cant mix the two different kinds of education paths - Vocational vs. Higher Ed.

Vocational education, such as what's taught at places like Jiffy Lube University, where the focus is on imparting specific knowledge to perform a specific set of tasks, like performing an oil change. Everything that's taught gets used on the job, nothing extra is taught.  The skills learned are directly applied on the job, and success depends on following clear, established procedures.  Vocational jobs don’t require analytical thinking, just the knowledge to follow pre-written step-by-step instructions and skill to do it. For these jobs, even math like basic algebra isn’t necessary.

In contrast, Higher education aims to prepare individuals for work that involves problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making in complex, non-repetitive environments.  These jobs involve challenges that can’t be scripted or standardized, and the roles demand the ability to analyze new problems, weigh trade-offs, and make sound judgments.  Higher Ed provides this kind of kind of mental training.

Subjects like algebra, calculus, statistics, and beyond aren’t just about numbers—they’re tools that build logic, abstraction, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Even if the math itself isn’t used day-to-day, the thinking skills it sharpens are essential in nearly every intellectually demanding profession.
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