New tool of caucasian cis-male patriarchal oppressors

[BlueStarLizzard]

Are you making an argument for common core math?   

I would have most likely benefited from common core math. I think it should be used as an alternative for students who are obviously not going to be able to do math traditionally.

I think the problem involved is the stigma related to pulling students for specialized instruction related to learning disabilities. Instead of dealing with the stigma, the "solution" seems to be to treat everyone like they have a learning disability.

[MechAg94]

Algebra is rather abstract and one of those things that separate those who can think abstractly from those who can not.  That said, it can be taught to most folk if brought down to earth and tied to something material that folk can wrap their minds around.  Which is how it ought to be taught, as it is too handy a tool to exclude any who might be able to use it.  Sadly, many algebra teachers have little ability to do this.  I have to wonder, have these teachers done nothing in their lives that involves the application of their mathematical knowledge?

One of my college roommates was a guy who already had an accounting degree, but was getting his education certificate so he would do coaching and teaching.  He was taking an education class on how to teach Algebra II.  It was going through all the proofs and derivations and such.  He didn't have much good to say about some of the education majors taking the class.  The best teachers I had did something else before going into teaching.  The could talk about the application a little bit.  Either way, bad teachers can ruin a kid if they have no other help.

[MechAg94]

I had a conversation about this with the lady who comes through and does our janitorial stuff a few times a week.  She said she took a lot of the consumer math and other more applied math classes short of algebra in high school.  However, she said her daughter who is in school now doesn't have those classes available.  It seems the more advanced classes are all that is available.  Apparently her daughter has struggled with math and particularly algebra. 

It really made me think a lot of this is not the students, but the schools and the bureaucracy that has turned it into a big money scam that might do some education. 

[K Frame]

HATESPEEKS! OPPRESSOR!

Damned straight.

[K Frame]

I've always struggled with math. Hard. Calculus my senior year wasn't a disaster, but it was damned close. By that time, though, I had already been accepted to college so I didn't really care much. Thank God for the teacher, a saint of a man who helped get me through some rocky points and I was able to struggle to a C.

Sucking at math was always kind of embarrassing for me because my Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather were all engineers/land surveyors.

The math classes where I did the best were the ones where I saw practical applications -- trigonometry and geometry, and even they could be dicey. But I got better grades in those classes than in most other math classes because both applied directly to the work I helped my Dad with.

[Scout26]

I had a conversation about this with the lady who comes through and does our janitorial stuff a few times a week.  She said she took a lot of the consumer math and other more applied math classes short of algebra in high school.  However, she said her daughter who is in school now doesn't have those classes available.  It seems the more advanced classes are all that is available.  Apparently her daughter has struggled with math and particularly algebra. 

It really made me think a lot of this is not the students, but the schools and the bureaucracy that has turned it into a big money scam that might do some education. 

Yep, there are no Home Ec or Consumer Ed any more.  High Schools around here don't have an shop classes (Wood, Metal, Auto Electricity/Electronics) or even Drafting/mechanical drawing classes anymore.   Everything is geared toward putting as many kids in college(s) as possible.  Most kids don't need to go to college.

[makattak]

Yep, there are no Home Ec or Consumer Ed any more.  High Schools around here don't have an shop classes (Wood, Metal, Auto Electricity/Electronics) or even Drafting/mechanical drawing classes anymore.   Everything is geared toward putting as many kids in college(s) as possible.  Most kids don't need to go to college.

As I've noted before, college is businesses outsourcing competency testing because they will be sued if they implemented it themselves.

As a result, a college diploma now indicates that you are competent enough to make it through 4 years of tasks assigned by others and are likely capable of learning whatever the businesses want you to do.

It's an INSANE waste of capital because of legal ramifications.

Thanks, government!

(Note, SOME degrees still have value for themselves, but it is a dwindling few, and all have had their price unnecessarily increased by artificially created demand.)

[grampster]

America would vastly benefit from closing half of the colleges and enlarging trade schools.  Sadly, if they did that though, it would probably cost $20,000 a year for trade school instead of a couple thousand.

[BlueStarLizzard]

America would vastly benefit from closing half of the colleges and enlarging trade schools.  Sadly, if they did that though, it would probably cost $20,000 a year for trade school instead of a couple thousand.

At least those student loans would have real possibility of getting paid off.

[brimic]

At least those student loans would have real possibility of getting paid off.

Thread win!