Reply to really interesting article on math and acceleration

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote][b]There is little evidence that "advanced math" in the elementary years makes anyone more likely to be a skilled mathematician. [/b]I agree with the status thing. It is blatantly about status. These parents trample on the system abusing teachers and administrators (and their own children) trying to get advanced math classes for Johnny. They don't care if their actions with advanced groupings actually hurt kids in the lower groups (which has been shown) or leads to incomplete understanding by Johnny. They just want Johnny to be in Trig by 8th grade. The worst part of this is that these parents would NEVER WANT JOHNNY TO BE A MATHEMATICIAN because they know that it does not pay. They want Johnny to be a lawyer or doctor or something more lucrative. 
There are many many selfish parents out there.[/quote]

Most elementary school kids in other countries (poor and relatively well off) are more advanced in Math than American elementary school kids.  I suspect we have more of our kids in math graduate programs than the rest of the globe.  Furthermore, we are probably at the top of the heap in regards math performance.

Is there evidence that redshirted math kids (e.g., held back and can't add, subtract, divide and multiply fractions and decimals in high school) are more likely to be skilled mathematicians?  Do you need a randomized, prospective double blind study to answer the question for you (e.g. calculator) or is it ok to use one's brain (e.g., common sense) for the answer ( akin to math intuition and number sense).[/quote]

Unfortunately, this is why we study using the prospective double blinded studies. Some things that seem intuitive do not always prove to be true. 
It is not true that MOST elementary kids in other countries are more advanced than their US counter parts. It is true that most in the developed world are more advanced at the elem. level. 
There are many foreign students in our math grad programs. 
There is no evidence that red shirted kids are more likely to be skilled mathematicians. Gifted kids are also not likely to be mathematicians, any where in the world. The point is that for any society, at the elementary level it is imperative to teach to all kids and get them as functional as possible so that the RN administering your meds when you are in the hospital can quickly spot an erroneous dose. The genius kids who want to pursue math can do so after sitting next to the red-shirted kid in 4th grade. Let's just have reasonable goals, good teachers, and good curricula. [/quote]

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