No Algebra II? Great for students, terrible for Texas workforce

[TexasTowelie]

AUSTIN — Call it much ado about Algebra II.

The math class of exponents and imaginary numbers — and a potential predictor of a student's success in college and in life — has become a key point of contention in the Texas Legislature.

Lawmakers are grappling with overhauling high school graduation requirements statewide. And several bills backed by industry groups would tweak graduation rules to give students more options in career training and vocational skills.

But that could mean no longer requiring Algebra II for all students. Opponents say will ultimately produce future Texans who are less prepared for the workforce of the future — not more so.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/No-Algebra-II-Great-for-students-terrible-for-4359906.php .

[DhhD]

1. Wait a minute, how could it be forgotten that Algebra II is how one does and learns Chemistry and

Physics? Some schools require Algebra II or enrollment in Algebra II, before a student can even be in a Chemistry or Physics class. Oh, I forgot, Texas is trying to do away with Science. I guess other states will provide the master and doctor degrees in Science after accepting science competent students in to their College of Arts and Sciences programs. I guess Texas student's ACT and SAT scores will drop more while other states surge ahead.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I took chemistry as a sophomore in high school.

I had the Algebra I background and was in the top 1% in math so my math skills didn't affect me too much. I made a "B" in the chemistry course. Oddly enough, I learned the basic rules for calculus (taking a derivative and how to integrate) that same year.

What was ironic was that I made an "A" and had the highest grade in my class on the American Chemical Society standardized test in general chemistry during my first year of college. At least six of the fifty students in that class became physicians.

In college, I took physics concurrently with linear algebra and calculus III so the applications discussed in one class sometimes were repeated a couple of weeks later.

[localroger]

6. You can't get very far in college Chemistry without Algebra II though

College chemistry is a very different beast than high school chemistry. When you start getting into the dynamics of electron orbitals and exactly why certain atoms' electron shells interact with others to arrange them at certain energy levels and link angles and not others, you need real math.

[TexasTowelie]

7. Agreed.

The acid-base equilibrium equations stumped many of the students that had weak mathematical backgrounds. My professor was impressed with my knowledge of the laws of logarithms and their use in solving equations. I always said that if I was stranded on a deserted island that I wanted by CRC handbook of mathematical tables--I could solve virtually any problem that might arise with it.

One of the other differences that I see between first and second year algebra was the emphasis on how to create models to solve problems. That meant developing the reading comprehension to understand the problem, deciding what information was relevant and determining the equations necessary to describe the chemical reactions.

[DhhD]

8. Currently, State graduation requirements for Science is four credits. Three mandatory classes are

Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The other credit is from two half credits; one gained as a one semester class in various other courses like, environment sciences, aquatics, astronomy, geology and others.

Is my belief and experience that some home schooled students (and parents) would need help from a tutor to do Chemistry and Physics even if they finished an Algebra II credit class at home. Home or small group problem solved by: getting the state education administration to take down Chemistry and Physics: in other words, dismantle Science Education in Texas and replace it with a business fascist curriculum as business and feudal jobs do not need science; Re: Creationist Curriculum.

Is the new CSCOPE curriculum a fascist curriculum? It can electronically hid the removal of the Founding Father's documents and the Founding Fathers, as it needs no one; no teacher, parent of tutor, only a computer.

Parent committees need to carefully review these new curriculum ideas in my opinion. Please do not let it go, you can trust only what you approve of these days.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Imaginary numbers are a violation of God's will. nt

[TexasTowelie]

4. But they are essential for Euler's formula

which links trigonometry and analysis.

Oops, trigonometry is all Greek anyways and they don't want to bail them out.

[Downwinder]

5. Don't need algebra to work a POS or wait tables.

[sonias]

9. Unfortunately that's true

And that is exactly what's happening. The dumbing down of the work force to "force" American kids into jobs that the corporate control gate keepers want to plan for. If the corporations need skilled labor they'll just import that as needed. Or outsource the jobs to cheaper countries. It's all about costs. There is nothing about building a sustainable educated work force. Kids have just now become costs and "cogs in the wheel".

Kids of course don't know any better. They just want the easy way out. It will cost them big time in the long run though. As they get trapped in lower income classes.

Makes me sick to think how much they are getting short changed.

[Ishoutandscream2]

10. Wow, they're fucking with the Recommended plan of graduation

Which is really excellent. 4 credits for each of the core subjects (16). 2 credits of a foreign language (18). I year of fine arts (19). I year technology (20). 1 year of physical education (21). A semester of health and a semester of speech (22). 4 general electives (26). A good and overall solid plan to have students prepared for college. And in that, of course, one must take and pass Algebra 2.

We currently have the minimum plan which only requires 24 credits and only 3 years of math. Quite a few sped students (mainly students in resource classes) and at-risk students end up graduating on that plan. But they cannot start at a four year university (in Texas, anyway). Some go to community college, and many end up going to work or the military. However, we strongly emphasize that as many of our students graduate on the recommended track. Those idiots in Austin need to leave this along, because as a high school counselor, I'm seeing many students stepping up the challenge and accomplishing the task.