Re:An update on the campaign to defend serious math educatio...
by hellisothers on Tuesday April 26, 2022 @03:29PM
(#31172044)
As the parent of a child who is gifted at math this is wrong on so many levels, I’ll just state one. My kid only has so much time he can genuinely focus on “school work” in a day, why should he be forced to spend “school” time on things wildly beneath his level and then come home and spend his own time on additional “school” type work?
Re:An update on the campaign to defend serious math educatio...
by ralph84 on Tuesday April 26, 2022 @03:45PM
(#31172264)
How is it directing more resources to allow students to take courses at their level? It's not like you have to pay high school math teachers a higher salary to teach calculus. Your typical public high school in California has 1,000+ students. With that many students it's not going to be hard to find 20-30 students to register for a calculus class. It's not like you're running a special private class just for a few gifted students.
Re:An update on the campaign to defend serious math educatio...
by nullc on Tuesday April 26, 2022 @10:11PM
(#31175473)
Every student needs and should be entitled to an education that pushes their abilities. Without it, they won't learn to put in the effort required to be successful even at a level that doesn't make use of their enhanced abilities.
This might mean that there are additional costs for 'gifted' students. But that's no different than there being additional costs for mentally less advanced students: no matter what the students are, providing an education fit to their needs has costs... and a failure to provide it creates inequality when the most privileged families move their children (or relocate entirely) to places that will provide a more suitable education.
This seems a little off. What we're talking about (and what it seems like you're defending) is directing more resources towards the most gifted. It's fine to believe that, but it's an argument to give the most to those who have the most. Nobody is pulling anyone down, and communists are as happy to grant power and resources to those with aptitude and connections as capitalists are.
edit: with the constant attacks on teachers, it might be more realistic to stop aiming for calculus in high school. Any kid who manages it within a gutted public system would have gotten there anyway, no matter what situation they found themselves in. They can download calculus books and calculus lectures now; with the internet a feral education is within everyone's reach.