Re: Despite high school algebra focus, more students need remedial college math
- From: Dom <DRosa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 10:35:59 -0700 (PDT)
On May 12, 10:08 pm, Ablang <ron...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Despite high school algebra focus, more students need remedial college
math
By Deb Kollars - dkollars at sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, May 12, 2008
Five years ago, California took a bold step and began requiring
algebra of every graduating high school senior. The grumbling ran
deep. The work was hard. The underlying equation came through loud and
clear:
More math in high school would equal more students prepared for
college.
For many, it hasn't added up.
In a pattern that has area math professors scratching their heads,
some community colleges are seeing an increase in the numbers and
proportions of entering students who can't do algebra, or even basic
arithmetic.
If these "math professors" bothered to examine all the rubbish that is
being promoted in K-12, I don't think that they would be "scratching
their heads."
Recently, I had the grim experience of examining a disgraceful
doorstop, which has been adopted by a local high school.
Algebra 1
Holt, Rinehart and Winston (2007)
921 pages, plus 165 additional pages at the end.
Authors: Edward B. Burger, David J. Chard, Earlene J. Hall, Paul A.
Kennedy, Steven J. Leinwand, Freddie L. Renfro, Dale G. Seymour, Bert
K. Waits
I would like to point out that Leinwand, Seymour and Waits are three
stalwarts of the "math reform" rubbish that has been promoted for the
past 20 years.
Also listed are 28 Reviewers, 2 Contributing Authors, and 4 Field
Participants
I was told that students do not actually use the book. They simply
keep it at home for "reference." The teacher distributes photocopies
of handouts that come with the doorstop.
The fact that these abominable doorstops are being written, published,
promoted, and adopted is indicative of the incompetent people who have
overrun the education business in the U.S.--and who are primarily
responsible for the continuing pseudo-education of American students.
To get an idea of how our textbooks have degenerated, compare the
above with William G. Shute et al, "Elementary Algebra," American Book
Co. (1956). [The 1965 Enlarged Edition, which evidently responded to
"market forces," is identical except for some axioms and set theory
added at the end of the book.]
.
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