Onion Article Published in a WaPo Column

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Re: But seriously . . .

Originally posted by AnnC
Back in the olden days (1970s) when I was in high school, kids could choose either college-prep or vocational track. The vocational-track kids took "business math" and bookkeeping instead of geometry and algebra.

As an engineer, I certainly believe in the benefits of learning algebra. But if a student goes so far as to drop out of high school because she can't wrap her head around the quadratic formula then maybe schools should offer different options for math-impaired kids.

Exactly. Algebra is a fine discipline, and one I enjoyed -- but the fact is, Cohen is right. Most people can live perfectly happy lives without it. Sure, they won't become engineers or architects, but you know what? They weren't going to do that anyway. In fact, anyone who's mental acumen won't allow them to pass algebra is pretty much destined to either (1) occupy one of life's lower rungs, as Ms. Ocampo probably will, or (2) succeed in an are in which being able to spell "algebra" is enough. Either way, why torture them?

[KrazyHorse]

Most people can live perfectly happy lives without it

Most people can live perfectly fine lives without knowing Spanish, or French, or understanding the use of metaphor in Shakespeare, or knowing where the Gobi desert is, or...

[Asher]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Most people can live perfectly fine lives without knowing Spanish, or French, or understanding the use of metaphor in Shakespeare, or knowing where the Gobi desert is, or...

Word, yo.

If I've got to learn about iambic pentameter, those idiots can solve for x where 2x=6.

[KrazyHorse]

All you people are making arguments for is ending school in Grade 8 for most students. Which might well be a better use of resources than the current system.

It doesn't make the ever-so-esoteric knowledge imparted in an algebra class any less useless for the masses than that provided by 90% of their other classes...

[notyoueither]

I'm conflicted.

There need to be standards or a HS diploma loses meaning.

On the other hand, a person who can't get it after 6 or 7 tries pretty obviously has a learning disability. Given that lack of a HS diploma can have a marked effect on the rest of that person's life, is it fair to withhold the diploma?

[notyoueither]

Were I the teacher, I would have passed her through with a 51% on the third try.

It is unlikely she would have turned up in the applicant pool for any physics programmes.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
On the other hand, a person who can't get it after 6 or 7 tries pretty obviously has a learning disability

Or is just plain stupid, but has managed to coast through classes where stupidity is masked by subjectivity in the grading scheme.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse

Most people can live perfectly happy lives without it

Most people can live perfectly fine lives without knowing Spanish, or French, or understanding the use of metaphor in Shakespeare, or knowing where the Gobi desert is, or...

Absolutely. I didn't mean to single out algebra. Frankly, all most people need from school are a basic grounding in arithmetic and a sound ability to communicate.

[Q Classic]

And if she has a learning disability, somebody should have stepped in after the second or third time.

Honestly, if she hasn't been a) able to get free tutoring somewhere, b) able to prove any sort of disability, it really looks like a lack of will.

A fault of character--not of the school.

[KrazyHorse]

I'd be very surprised if her writing skills, for instance, were really acceptable for a high school senior (?). Unfortunately, basic writing skills don't seem to figure in a lot of English classes...

[KrazyHorse]

Re: Re: But seriously . . .

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly

Either way, why torture them?

So what does a HS diploma mean?

Fundamentals like algebra, geography, history and English should be requirements, not options.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by notyoueither
I'm conflicted.

There need to be standards or a HS diploma loses meaning.

On the other hand, a person who can't get it after 6 or 7 tries pretty obviously has a learning disability. Given that lack of a HS diploma can have a marked effect on the rest of that person's life, is it fair to withhold the diploma?

A HS degree has already lost all meaning, and not through any fault of the poor students. Why penalize them?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


Or is just plain stupid, but has managed to coast through classes where stupidity is masked by subjectivity in the grading scheme.

Perhaps, but what does a HS diploma mean today?

Academia requires more than just a basic diploma, because it is well known that 51% is no where near good enough.

Meanwhile, lack of a basic diploma will have serious effetcs on a person's employment prospects.

[Q Classic]

51% is still a failing grade in most American schools, my understanding is--the cutoff when I was in high school was 70%--which was the low-end D. I honestly don't know if that actually did qualify as passing, either.

[Q Classic]

A lack of a College diploma these days will now also impact hiring prospects.