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A comment on Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return to SAT tests for STEM. Parent comment

Re:Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return... by DonutATX on Thursday May 28, 2026 @11:11AM (#48310087)
I suggest you glance at the novel Ananthem by Neal Stephenson. The core plot device is about "universities" stripping all worldly items away from the students, so they are left with simple clothes and chalkboards. Fascinating topic, well executed by Neal. One of my favorite books.
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Re:Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return... by __rito__ on Thursday May 28, 2026 @11:53AM (#48310750)
This is nothing new. It is ancient.

Ancient Hindus divided life into four parts, the earliest was called "Brahmacharya" - core tenet of it was celibacy, but sons of kings and rich merchants lived ascetic lives in the teacher's house who was also an ascetic and a sage - no rich clothes, no luxury foods or comfort.

This was supposed to last till the age of 16, going as high as 21 for some.

The Buddhist monastery-universities of India also kept students under similar conditions - celibate, ascetic, and far from luxury.

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Re:Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return... by __rito__ on Thursday May 28, 2026 @02:08PM (#48313025)
The maths in the book where these students and scholars stayed in Anathem, were directly inspired by matths in India. I visited one last month.
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Re:Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return... by mos_basik on Thursday May 28, 2026 @11:59AM (#48310833)
God, what a great book, imo. My favorite Stephenson novel.
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Re:Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return... by __rito__ on Thursday May 28, 2026 @02:07PM (#48313007)
Mine, too. Cryptonomicon was the gateway drug. But I loved 'Anathem'.
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Re:Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return... by bix6 on Thursday May 28, 2026 @11:25AM (#48310333)
This reminded me of Kvothe from Name of the Wind.
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Re:Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return... by xg15 on Thursday May 28, 2026 @11:16AM (#48310175)
That sounds like the other extreme.
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Re:Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return... by jobs_throwaway on Thursday May 28, 2026 @12:19PM (#48311137)
Anathem* for those like me who googled it
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