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X_Digger

(18,585 posts)

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

Tue Feb 5, 2013, 10:38 AM

Feb 2013

At the time, in Virginia, algebra was considered a 'high school' course usually taught to 9th graders (our county had no middle schools, but a weird junior high with 8th and 9th graders and high school was 10th, 11th, and 12th.)

They had two math tracks- algebra, algebra II, and geometry for one, algebra, algebra II, trig, and calculus for the other. I *think* they also had a pre-algebra class, but I could be mistaken.

I had a really great vice-principal at our elementary school, who tutored some of us in the 7th grade in what would today be called pre-algebra.

I bucked the system and took algebra in 8th, geometry in 9th, algebra II in 10th, trig in 11th, and calculus in 12th. Yeah, I was a bit of a geek.

I didn't know that states had pushed algebra back a grade. Kinda makes me sad, as I consider algebra a vital life skill (yes, you really do use it often- how many times have you compared prices at the supermarket, and figured out the price per ounce to see if this deal is better than that one..)

Math geek alert:

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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