Skip to main content

How much is too much math to require for high school graduation? What do you think and why?

While states used to generally require Algebra I and geometry, many states are moving towards requiring geometry and Algebra II, including some trigonometry, for students to graduate from high school (see the first link below for state requirements). The state with the highest math scores, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (see the NCES link below) is Massachusetts, which leaves these decisions up to local school boards. The lowest-performing state, Alabama, requires Algebra...

While states used to generally require Algebra I and geometry, many states are moving towards requiring geometry and Algebra II, including some trigonometry, for students to graduate from high school (see the first link below for state requirements). The state with the highest math scores, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (see the NCES link below) is Massachusetts, which leaves these decisions up to local school boards. The lowest-performing state, Alabama, requires Algebra II and some trigonometry. While this is a worthwhile goal, it's very possible that many students, even though bound for four-year colleges, will not be prepared to handle this type of math in high school. As Massachusetts, the highest-performing state, allows local school boards to set standards, this might be the best policy.


It is difficult to require many students to pass Algebra II that includes trigonometry because they simply don't have the background from elementary and middle school. For example, they don't understand exponents, so they can not go on to understand logarithms. Instead, some students are better served by taking Algebra I over several years so they can truly integrate the concepts. They should also be allowed to substitute a practical math class for Algebra II if it's clear that they can't handle advanced work in algebra by senior year of high school. Many students would get more benefit from this type of class, which can involve math skills related to creating budgets, taking out loans, buying a car, etc., than by taking an Algebra II class with trigonometry that they will not use again or understand. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more