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'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

joannejacobs.com

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Re: 'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

#291

Post by staunton »

com2kid wrote: post #270
staunton wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Linear algebra is not hard Keep in mind that this term covers a huge range of math that can be introduced at very different levels of abstraction and generality. You might think linear algebra is mainly matrix multiplication and Gaussian elimination, someone else might think it's about the representation functor in Abelian categories.

We're talking about HS intro classes, so my use of Linear Algebra was at the same level as saying, well, Algebra. E.g. Non-math major uses of those terms. Almost any subject in math can go really deep!

Yes. However, I read your post as suggesting (given the quote you respond to) that significant numbers of high school students can/should take university level courses of the same name as their high school courses, presumably because it's the same thing.

Re: 'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

#292

Post by alex_sf »

NoMoreNicksLeft wrote: post #96
KiranRao0 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would expect small class sizes to be considerably more expensive.

How much do school districts in California spend (as a percentage of total budget) on staffers who do not teach children directly? If it is (for the sake of argument) a quarter of the budget, then I ask would 33% more funding be able to shrink class sizes to a degree that would meet your approval? If instead it were half the budget, would a 100% increase in funding not be able to shrink the class sizes enough? Does a…

We don't know, and school districts aren't required to report it. In 2022, 78% didn't.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-12-15/la-ed-schoo...

Re: 'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

#294

Post by HideousKojima »

froh wrote: post #204
mdorazio wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They need the math!!! Serious question: for what? Basic algebra, yes. And basic geometry is handy in many jobs as well. But beyond that?

where do we draw the line what's "basic"?

Being able to take an arbitrary word problem and turn it into an algebraic equation (or series of equations) and be able to solve it. That a huge percentage of kids graduate high school being unable to do that means several people (mostly parents but likely the school system too) failed them.

Re: 'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

#295

Post by Skeime »

EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK wrote: post #293

What's the problem? I remember at the beginning of each school year they gave us math textbooks for the year. I took me a week to read it all and do all the exercises. Today there is internet, Wikipedia, youtube, everything is so much easier.

Yeah, that’s right, down with teachers!

/s

Re: 'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

#296

Post by bigbacaloa »

praxulus wrote: post #32

I live in Seattle, not San Francisco, but we have some similar issues with our schools. I'd really prefer to send my son to our local public schools, but if they aren't challenging him appropriately then my wife and I obviously aren't going to just give up on his education. We'll either pay for extracurricular enrichment like the person in this article, move to a wealthy suburb, or send him to a private school instea…

This is the essence of NIMBY reasoning.

Re: 'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

#297

Post by jjav »

mindcandy wrote: post #115
Dalewyn wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Kids aren’t going to work on the farm or in a factory. They need the math!!! As someone who fucking hated and still hates academical math: No, kids do not need math. Not in the sense as taught in schools, anyway. That is a straight waste of precious time. What kids need is broader context and guidance for what math is, how it applies to the world around us, how we can use it, and why it's important. Fuck quadratic e…

Totally agree. AFAICT, our math curriculum has been set for a hundred years by mathematicians. People who by some quirk of their upbringing were extremely strongly motivated to dig deep into mathematics. Naturally, the mathematicians laid out for everyone the short path to deep competence in advanced math as fast as possible. Only seems obvious to them. This path ignores the obvious fact that 99.5% of students are no…

> You are simply required to memorize these rules because if you fail you are a failure.

Interesting take, completely opposite of my educational experience.

I have a terrible memory for remembering random things so I always did badly in subjects that are all about memorization (like history). Math was my refuge where I excelled, as it didn't require to memorize anything. Everything could be derived by logic; I could solve all problems on the spot during tests instead of having to hope I memorized the right answers earlier.

All other classes were of the form: (1) teacher presents a bunch of facts; (2) I'm supposed to memorize them all; (3) then I need to regurgitate a random sampling of them back during the test. I hated that so much. Math was the exception to that pattern, so I loved it.

Re: 'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

#299

Post by istinetz »

testfoobar wrote: post #211
amluto wrote: post #123

The district’s curriculum is partially available to the public: https://www.sfusd.edu/departments/mathematics-department-pag... https://www.sfusd.edu/about-sfusd-math-core-course-sequence-... And the district position statement: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uije_05H3BtVyp55oQZ7NCa2k58... It has a “guiding principle”: > Students’ academic success in mathematics must not be predictable on the basis of race, ethnici…

Its like people are willfully ignoring the obvious: Black and Hispanic kids do the worst in math. Understanding why and correcting for the problems is a complex task. Making big proclamations about equity isn't going to do it. Family life matters to the growth and development of children. 64% of Black children live in single parent homes vs. 16% of Asian kids. How does this effect math results? Black children are mor…

[flagged]

Re: 'Algebra for none' fails in San Francisco

#300

Post by netjiro »

georgeecollins wrote: post #243
testfoobar wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wealthy suburbs are cutting advanced classes too. Palo Alto Unified School District is dropping dual-enrolled Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra (classes taken after AP Calculus BC). https://www.paloaltoonline.com/square/2023/03/29/cancellatio...

My kid is on this track exactly and I think it is a joke that some kids take multivariable calculus or linear algebra in high school. Enrichment and AP has become an arms race for the upper middle class to get their kids into good schools. Realistically, if you are STEM major you probably are going to have to retake these classes anyway. And if you aren't you probably won't need them. I know some kids are really exce…

> I think it is a joke that

Standards change greatly with time and it is a joke to believe that applying the same standards to everyone will get a good outcome.

Anecdata: I would have loved to get the possibility to study higher math at high school level, at school. I had to dig it out on my own since the local school topped out after basic calculus, linalg, statistics. I was not alone.

Today I would estimate that top 5% could easily and happily handle multivariate, ode/pde, etc in high school given proper support and encouragement.

Top few percent learn several times faster than average. What is the point, other than ancient ideology, to slow them down and hinder their learning progress?

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