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Re: urgent question that needs a response
Posted:
Feb 2, 2011 9:51 AM
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Liz I agree with you and have been saying this for years. I think we turn them off to school and education by forcing them to take courses that they simply are unable to do. I'm talking about a small percentage (not the lazy ones) . We have students that have an IQ below 85 and we make them take the Algebra Regents and fail, and then we allow them to get another diploma, but they have to FAIL first.
I think that in our zeal to give everyone a higher education we have gone overboard. College is not for everyone and it seems we are forcing it down their throats and I believe we only raise the dropout rate. Maybe if we took some of these kids and steered them in a different direction , a good trade for example, they would not be so turned off and frustrated and our dropout rate would not be so high.
----- Original Message -----
From: elizwaite@aol.com
To: nyshsmath@mathforum.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: urgent question that needs a response
I think administrators who think this 'rigor' will help the lowest students should be forced to sit through a Calc III class after years of being out of college and see how they do. Then maybe they'll understand the abuse they are handing our weakest students under the guise of 'challenging' them.
Liz Waite
-----Original Message-----
From: PJ Manzo <pmanzo317@gmail.com>
To: nyshsmath <nyshsmath@mathforum.org>
Sent: Tue, Feb 1, 2011 6:40 pm
Subject: Re: urgent question that needs a response
Jim
Our school is huge, roughly 2,400 students. We have a tremendous amount of ELLs and SPEDS. Up until now, the 2 year Integrated Algebra and 2 year Geometry courses were perfect for these very low achieving students. (Mind you, some are refugees who have never been to school and can barely speak English)
We, too, have been told that starting next year only 1 year algebra and 1 year geometry will be offered. This has a lot to do with adding rigor to the school and creating a more challenging environment. I won't voice any opinions of my own on here, but I did want you to know you're not alone.
We'll just have to see what comes out of it. Either the kids with live up to the faster paced course, or... they won't.
Regards,
PJ Manzo
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