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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have never used anything beyond basic algebra and geometry in my real life.  Provided my kids are not interested in a STEM field, I have no desire to press them through multivariable calculus.  They can, and should, spend their effort on subjects that interest them and will prove useful in the path they are pursuing.[/quote]

"Provided my kids aren't interested in STEM."  But that's a huge "provided".  Many, many (most ??) of the high caliber 21st century jobs are in STEM of some sort: the Tech sector, medicine, software engineering, other engineering.  Even patent law requires undergrad in a STEM field. Your kid has to make an Algebra placement decision in 7th grade. I certainly wouldn't want to decide for my 12 year old that they can't get into a top engineering, pre-med, CS, etc program. Why would you limit their options to undergrad liberal arts at such a young age?  When I was 12, I was certain I was going to be an Olympic gymnast (hint: I never made it onto a Wheaties box). Why decide your kid won't be in a math heavy field-- before they ever take a "real" abstract math class?

My 12 year old may not end up in a STEM field-- but she certainly could (she thinks she is going to play her instrument with the NSO, BTW).  She'll take Algebra in 7th grade, and if she hits Calculus in 11th and decides STEM is not for her, she'll take AB, instead of BC, and have a cakewalk through AP Stats her senior year. If she is interested in engineering, she'll be able to take BC her junior year, and multivariable through GMU as a senior-- and show colleges she has the math chops to succeed.  [/quote]

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