tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post9192886053602505469..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: Ready or Not, Here Comes AlgebraDarrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-8238267558547112722012-04-25T07:01:22.392-07:002012-04-25T07:01:22.392-07:00The ed world is incapable of distinguishing correl...The ed world is incapable of distinguishing correlation from causation. The push for 8th-grade algebra originated, in the 80s, from data showing that kids who took 8th-grade algebra did better in HS and beyond than those who didn't. Ignored in the 8th-grade-algebra-for-all hullaballoo was the fact that 8th grade algebra was then honors-only, taken by only those kids at the top of the academic pile. Of course, high-ability, well-prepared, motivated kids did better; they were fundamentally different from kids not taking the class. The same correlation existed for Latin, debate, AP classes etc.; the classes didn't cause success, they were composed of highly successful students. The ed world is continuously looking for the miracle cure, which doesn't exist.momof4noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-36366653757296693312012-04-24T18:27:17.117-07:002012-04-24T18:27:17.117-07:00How is that a surprise?
Putting unprepared kids i...How is that a surprise?<br /><br />Putting unprepared kids into algebra early because other kids were taking it early and succeeding in college is just like all those other misguided efforts that mistook an effect for a cause. People who own homes are more stable, so let's make banks give mortgages to people who can't afford them, and it will make them stable too. People who went to college are more successful in life, so let's make everyone go to college and then they'll all be successful. Utterly backwards!Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14247515387599954817noreply@blogger.com