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liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)

45. It's clear to me know why Obama has been able to get away with his stance on education

Tue Feb 5, 2013, 08:44 AM

Feb 2013

Last edited Tue Feb 5, 2013, 10:02 AM - Edit history (1)

Because republicans and democrats both agree that kids who struggle should be forced to catch up or else. I guess I really am alone. That's okay. I will do whatever I have to do to help my kid, and if that means pulling him out of public school and putting him in private school or homeschooling I will. I will not sacrifice my kid for some pie in the sky dream everyone has about every kid being exactly the same. Geez, no wonder kids drop out of school. No one cares about them. So nice to know. Well at least my kid will know I care about him. I will never stop fighting for him. And might I add as a parent of a an 8th grade special education student who has a 5th/6th grade level understanding of math, I really appreciate the term dumbing down of America. If your kid excels and is good at math and wants to take algebra I say good for them. But to say that if all kids don't take algebra by 8th grade then we are dumbing down America is an insult to those who truly do struggle through no fault of their own.

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California abandons algebra requirement for eighth-graders [View all] alp227 Feb 2013 OP

"We're dumbing down, dumb-de-dumb-dumb..." derby378 Feb 2013 #1

No, we are not. We are preventing more students to be tracked into special ed when they don't need duffyduff Feb 2013 #70

What on earth are they thinking??? Do they not want CA HS graduates to get into good universities?? kestrel91316 Feb 2013 #2

did you not notice the part about Common Core, the new national standards developed by Bill Gates HiPointDem Feb 2013 #25

" Do they not want CA HS graduates to get into good universities??" That's The True Reason Yavin4 Feb 2013 #59

Not very smart. calimary Feb 2013 #3

We had three years of algebra. PADemD Feb 2013 #4

In Iowa less than half of our 8th exboyfil Feb 2013 #5

At my junior high all eighth graders took algebra 1 alp227 Feb 2013 #13

I was in the California system exboyfil Feb 2013 #16

my daughter's friend is taking Cal II, my daughter is taking pre-Cal liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #21

You aren't very old. How many students couldn't master the material? How many duffyduff Feb 2013 #71

This is the computer age. Every child needs to understand algebra. JDPriestly Feb 2013 #39

Baloney. duffyduff Feb 2013 #72

My daughters came out of elementary school in a very good school exboyfil Feb 2013 #78

algebra is one of those skills that is developmental cally Feb 2013 #6

All skills are developmental TM99 Feb 2013 #30

what is wrong with treating people like individuals? liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #31

Nothing at all, however, TM99 Feb 2013 #40

Extremely well said. n/t RKP5637 Feb 2013 #55

Heck, the number of DU posters lacking in critical thinking and logic skills makes me sad sometimes. X_Digger Feb 2013 #62

How did she make it through the CA school system without taking Algebra? Starry Messenger Feb 2013 #82

The young lady in question TM99 Feb 2013 #83

Not true in most states. Algebra is ABSOLUTELY inappropriate for most middle school students. duffyduff Feb 2013 #69

Oh good god! TM99 Feb 2013 #76

FOIL/binomials foiled me... tridim Feb 2013 #66

Exactly. People who think this change is bad don't understand education or child development. duffyduff Feb 2013 #67

It is taught wrong. I say this decades after I suffered zonkers Feb 2013 #92

And a bunch of DUers will come along to defend this, Codeine Feb 2013 #7

Talk to Bill Gates about it, because he's the main force behind THE NEW NATIONAL STANDARDS, HiPointDem Feb 2013 #27

We're in, gasp, Tennessee and my son is already in pre-calculus Fawke Em Feb 2013 #8

assuming he is in a class with other 8th graders dsc Feb 2013 #12

Agreed. musical_soul Feb 2013 #23

The all seem fine and yes, they are "honors" students Fawke Em Feb 2013 #84

there is also the problem of just what math will they be taking in high school dsc Feb 2013 #86

that should be a choice for students that are ready for it liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #26

Tennessee, just like California, has adopted Common Core. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #28

*Everyone* who "hated" or "couldn't do" algebra, had a bad teacher. Nye Bevan Feb 2013 #9

I have to disagree with that liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #24

A good chunk of the 7th graders in our school take algebra. MissB Feb 2013 #10

the irony burns dsc Feb 2013 #11

I didn't see algebra until the 9th grade, either. GoCubsGo Feb 2013 #46

thank you. liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #49

Well, your son has a couple natural advantages Bradical79 Feb 2013 #74

Of course, your son has a chance. GoCubsGo Feb 2013 #81

You have two science degrees? Bradical79 Feb 2013 #64

Yes. I do. And, I understand the concept of anecdotal data. GoCubsGo Feb 2013 #80

Yeah, apparently they don't teach statistics and correlation v causation in HS either ;) n/t X_Digger Feb 2013 #53

The idea is it's the way to get to the Calculus by 12th grade Recursion Feb 2013 #63

Our descent towards Idiocracy continues. Initech Feb 2013 #14

I took algebra in 8th grade AnnieBW Feb 2013 #15

Adoelscent brain development is well-known. amandabeech Feb 2013 #37

thank you for your story liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #47

I had it in 7th grade, with physics, chemistry and biology nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #17

We started laundry_queen Feb 2013 #90

Americans, on purpoise, are dumbing down. nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #91

I was an eighth-grader in CA in 1984. Starry Messenger Feb 2013 #18

That is a mistake bluestateguy Feb 2013 #19

wait, what? Most states offer an alternative? liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #20

Nothing to do with what states are doing individually. If they adopted common core (& 45 HiPointDem Feb 2013 #29

Some students are not ready for Algebra in eighth grade. musical_soul Feb 2013 #22

Just curious, at what grade do they start separating the "gifted" from the others where you are? hughee99 Feb 2013 #85

Oh shit...that means Rick Perry will Rex Feb 2013 #32

Bad, bad decision. Elementary algebra provides students a gentle introduction to abstract thought. entanglement Feb 2013 #33

for those who want to take it they should have the choice to take it liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #34

Most 8th grade students should be able to take elementary algebra and entanglement Feb 2013 #35

yeah, most is the key word liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #36

you don't seem to get it. you seem to think this is california's individual choice. no, it's not. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #38

Not surprising, and this is but the tip of the iceberg. MadHound Feb 2013 #41

Success in algebra is linked to graduation from college? a la izquierda Feb 2013 #42

thank you very much! liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #44

I am sorry TM99 Feb 2013 #61

This is a mistake. HappyMe Feb 2013 #43

It's clear to me know why Obama has been able to get away with his stance on education liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #45

This is why we should be seperating kids by ability librabear Feb 2013 #57

I remember when those math standards were adopted in CA. LWolf Feb 2013 #48

I took algebra in the 8th grade, but it was a fight to get me in.. X_Digger Feb 2013 #50

I'm glad for you but not everybody is at that level liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #54

You're a great parent. Of course it's okay. Mariana Feb 2013 #89

I hated algebra but I think that's INSANE. aquart Feb 2013 #51

When the US is on track for #1 for "Idiocracy," why should CA get in the say. Go USA !!! RKP5637 Feb 2013 #52

The owners don't a population capable of critical thinking. They want obedient workers. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #56

Some of those obedient workers need to know trig. Sirveri Feb 2013 #87

I loved Trig, thought it was fun. But being proficient at it falls into George's category Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #88

okay I just got my sanity back thanks to the stories of those liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #58

I support this move AngryAmish Feb 2013 #60

Good news. It is developmentally inappropriate for most students. duffyduff Feb 2013 #65

Algebra was offered in 8th grade, but only for "smart" kids ceile Feb 2013 #68

I absolutely hated algebra in 8th grade. Apophis Feb 2013 #73

More race to the bottom for education. VenusRising Feb 2013 #75

i did`t have algebra in 8th grade. madrchsod Feb 2013 #77

I have an idea Livluvgrow Feb 2013 #79