I read a book that theorized that human intelligence will peak at some point. For instance, I think most people would agree you'd be wasting your time trying to teach calculus to a dog.
I'm not saying we're anywhere near there yet, but how far do we really have to push the 4th graders?
Not to mention adults realize how little they use most of the stuff taught to them in school
That is what I have noticed.But an unintended consequence of the law has been that many states have lowered the rigor of their standards and the difficulty of their tests to avoid sanctions the law imposes on failing schools, a process Secretary Duncan has called a “race to the bottom".
I agree - the amount of revision we do in first year uni, year 12 and year 11 in Australia for mathematics is rediciluous. We basically have been taught d/dx(x^2) = 2x for three years in a row.Originally Posted by aidan
Advanced students really are missing out - getting 100% in an easy test is far less satisfying than 70% in a hard one.
Indeed. Some of that time could have been spent in spelling classes .... (Only kidding).
The problem is that a lot of teaching is pitched at the middle band (which is getting weaker and weaker) rather than the top and bottom groups of students (you can thank the bleeding hearts who successfully argued that streaming is a nasty concept that damages a student. You can also thank many parents who, when it comes to the intelligence of their child, have delusions of adequacy.).
Depressing news indeed. I don't think they'll reach their goal until and unless they show Maths' true face to the students. They not only have to see how exciting it can get, but also how beautiful it really is. For almost everyone, Maths is just formulae, equations and x's and y's sucking your brain juice. Your attitude affects your performance.
And what's with all the whites/blacks/Hispanics? Do I smell racist rats?
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