California abandons algebra requirement for eighth-graders

[TM99]

30. All skills are developmental

and that is why we design curriculum that teach any skill from math to science to the English language in a steadily progressive manner.

Thirty years ago, every middle school student in the NC public schools took algebra. Naturally there were beginner courses and advanced courses. And those, like myself, who were 'academically gifted' took the higher level courses much sooner. Yet all students by the time they reached the public high schools had taken at least Algebra I even if they needed Pre-Algebra classes to augment it and make it possible.

If children today are now 'dumber' and are not capable of taking these classes as they once did, the question then is why? Are we now saying that kids today are developmentally stunted and therefore are incapable of taking these math courses like generations previously were required to do? This continued dumbing down of America will begin very quickly to have frightening consequences some of which are already becoming apparent today.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Dumbest-Generation-Stupefies-Jeopardizes/dp/1585427128/ref=pd_sim_b_9

http://www.amazon.com/The-Shallows-Internet-Doing-Brains/dp/0393339750/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.amazon.com/Distracted-Erosion-Attention-Coming-Dark/dp/1591027489/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t