Anonymous wrote:I don't feel reassured at all, I just feel like they are waiting for the hysteria to die down and they will present the same exact thing again with slightly different words.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think a change like this makes a lot of sense (From the article):

Algebra II is frequently combined with trigonometry in the third year of high school math. It covers linear equations, functions, exponential and logarithmic expressions and other topics. It is required for graduation in 20 states (not including Virginia) and the District of Columbia. But math education experts such as Phil Daro and Harold Asturias have suggested giving students the option of taking data science or quantitative reasoning instead.

I also like the idea of teaching math more conceptually/providing more of the theory behind it.

This would mean Algebra 2 is not covered by 10th grade and kids would not be able to take calculus in high school. VMPI is giving assurances that algebra 2 is part of Math 8-10, but I think it is more likely algebra 2 is being mostly dropped. They originally had precalculus as just a half year course, and have said in the videos that it really isn't needed in high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

Sure seemed like it, didn't it.

Turns out I was 100% correct.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

Sure seemed like it, didn't it.

Anonymous wrote:

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

Anonymous wrote:

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Was this guy posting at DCUM the last month to try and shut down discussion?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think a change like this makes a lot of sense (From the article):

Algebra II is frequently combined with trigonometry in the third year of high school math. It covers linear equations, functions, exponential and logarithmic expressions and other topics. It is required for graduation in 20 states (not including Virginia) and the District of Columbia. But math education experts such as Phil Daro and Harold Asturias have suggested giving students the option of taking data science or quantitative reasoning instead.

I also like the idea of teaching math more conceptually/providing more of the theory behind it.

This would mean Algebra 2 is not covered by 10th grade and kids would not be able to take calculus in high school. VMPI is giving assurances that algebra 2 is part of Math 8-10, but I think it is more likely algebra 2 is being mostly dropped. They originally had precalculus as just a half year course, and have said in the videos that it really isn't needed in high school.

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,”

Anonymous wrote:
I think a change like this makes a lot of sense (From the article):

Algebra II is frequently combined with trigonometry in the third year of high school math. It covers linear equations, functions, exponential and logarithmic expressions and other topics. It is required for graduation in 20 states (not including Virginia) and the District of Columbia. But math education experts such as Phil Daro and Harold Asturias have suggested giving students the option of taking data science or quantitative reasoning instead.

I also like the idea of teaching math more conceptually/providing more of the theory behind it.

Algebra II is frequently combined with trigonometry in the third year of high school math. It covers linear equations, functions, exponential and logarithmic expressions and other topics. It is required for graduation in 20 states (not including Virginia) and the District of Columbia. But math education experts such as Phil Daro and Harold Asturias have suggested giving students the option of taking data science or quantitative reasoning instead.

Anonymous wrote:Good

Lane, the Virginia state superintendent, is an experienced administrator, having led three school districts. He seems to understand how politically poisonous it would be to tell parents that every child is going to be on the same math track through 10th grade.

But instead of denouncing the idea in our conversation, he said assumptions about what exact changes would be made were premature. “It is just a thought process right now,” he said. “We are going into the community. We are talking about the standards. Nothing is even in draft form or is going to the board. We are just going out and getting feedback on what people think about some of these ideas.

Lane’s spokesman later told me “he does unequivocally denounce the idea that every student should be forced to take the exact same math courses at the same time without options for acceleration.””

Fox, watching the growing debate, said she is not convinced by Lane and Bolling’s insistence that no decisions have been made. “Any experienced teacher knows that without tracking, teachers will be forced to teach to the lowest common denominator and the brightest students will languish, or teachers will teach to the middle and struggling students will fall behind,” she said.

I think the growing publicity will doom most of this reform effort. School board members, both state and local, tend to back off from anything that draws angry parents to their meetings. In my experience, the best and most resilient educational changes start in classrooms and stay there. That may be one reason that they survive.