Students need to challenge themselves by taking the most rigorous coursework appropriate in each year of high school. Students also need to achieve success in those courses, which involves hardwork, discipline and familial support. It’s not about getting into college, though that process becomes more competitive each year; it’s about being prepared to be successful academically once in college. A student with a weak senior year is more at risk of failing out as a freshman.

Bob #2, at 12:20 pm EDT on May 14, 2008

Algebra II is Vital

As a community college professor I see many students who have not had Algebra II in high school, and this fact holds them back greatly in college. It frequently means remedial/developmental math courses are required, and it means that they are not ready to pursue the math that is required for any field of study in the sciences, business, computer science, many of the social sciences, etc. I wish that high school counselors would push all of their students to take Algebra II. Business math, or whatever they call it, is simply a waste of time in high school. So, I applaud this effort to increase the number of students taking Algebra II and other “tough” courses.

Eric Brandon, at 2:20 pm EDT on May 14, 2008

Kids and College

If you let kids take the easy way out, they will. Its absolutely criminal the number of kids that “Graduate” with little or no math knowledge. Its a totaly waste of their time and our resources to get to the end and not be able to go to the next level without all of the remedial processes. Its a reason why many of the top scientist, engineers, and computer technicians have last names that you cant pronounce. Primarily because they come from places that appreciate and value education. there is no two month veg period. There is no lowering of the bar. Actually, by the time many come to this country, they have two to three years on american kids by the tweleve grade.

BIG AL, Director at YWCA CyberSpace, at 3:15 pm EDT on May 14, 2008

Wake up...

Abolishing grades will accomplish what? In general parents don’t, won’t or can’t motivate their kids. Schools have acquired absolute control of learning and the subjects taught. Kids are entertained by their electronics and will take the easy way out if allowed to. Does anyone see a pattern forming here? The basic message is that everyone, not just the school systems have a hand in and responsibility for the education of our youth. We may not be failing, but the results we are getting certainly aren’t stellar. Parents need to man up and tell Johnny if you are under performing then you are grounded, cars gone, TV’s off, cell phone is history and if you can’t behave in school, your world is going to be one of misery; but this won’t happen because we are afraid that Johnny might have his feelings hurt and not be accepted by his spoiled friends or I (the parent) don’t have time to deal with this, it’s the school responsibility to see that Johnny is taken care of. When I was setting up my schedule for High School I took the easy road. My Father took one look and that all changed in the blink of an eye. He said you are going to take Algebra II, Advanced Biology, Chemistry and Physics. There will be no discussion about it! Parents and schools need to work together, set high expectations / standards and except nothing less. The world really hasn’t changed; we have…Our controlled educational environments aren’t really controlled at all, just sterile and under functioning. Motivating students to push beyond the requirements in the K -12 system will help them jump start into the next phase of their lives. If parents don’t force the issue then it is probably time to change the requirements. Dumbing down courses, abolishing grades and all the other half baked schemes do nothing but allow Johnny to be even less than he is now. Wake up…

Just another CC instructor, at 8:50 pm EDT on May 14, 2008

Grades make students afraid of harder courses

I can attest from personal experience that fear of a bad grade leads many very intelligent students to avoid harder courses.

At my university, we have two calculus courses: one “regular” course and one accelerated course, which packs about 2 semesters into one. Every year students ask whether they should take the accelerated course or not and the biggest reason for their hesitancy is fear of “harming” their GPA. Often these students fear that a lesser grade will hamper their chances of getting into medical school or graduate school.

Any educator who knows anything about learning will tell you that a student who receives a ‘B’ in an accelerated course has probably learned more than a student who earned an ‘A’ in a non-accelerated course. Yet, the increasing emphasis on strong GPAs in our educational system often dis-incentivizes students from taking the advanced course.

The emphasis on grade competition in education has created a situation that is woefully ironic: Those students who tend to be the most ambitious and goal-driven (i.e. those aiming for graduate school or medical school) are often the ones who are most tempted to “play it safe” by taking less challenging coursework.

MathProf, at 5:20 am EDT on May 15, 2008