Rather than educating students, we retreat and call it a victory:
Kansas universities may scrap their algebra graduation requirement because too many students fail the course, NPR Kansas reported.
“About one in three Kansas students fails college algebra the first time around. Some take it several times before they pass. Others get so frustrated that they drop out altogether. And that cuts into university graduation rates,” the news outlet reported Dec. 12.
With that, the Kansas Board of Regents is considering alternative requirements such as statistics and quantitative reasoning under what’s called a Math Pathways program, it added.
“We’re sending the majority of students down the college algebra road, which is really not necessary,” said Daniel Archer, vice president of academic affairs for the Kansas Board of Regents. “It’s not practical. It’s not really needed. And it’s not relevant for their fields.”
I remember when a university degree used to be a sign of academic achievement.
Pathetic.
Fine. Then eliminate all the damned humanities requirements for engineers and mathematicians. "It's not really needed. And it's not relevant for their fields."
ReplyDeleteI'd be really happy right now if our youngest son didn't have to spend any more money and time on art and literature classes. His degree is in economics.
I remember the concept of a "well-rounded education"....
ReplyDeleteWhy not just offer two types of degrees? One could be a "mini" version that offers composition and math courses that are relevant to a particular field, plus the courses that make up that major - quicker, less expensive, narrow focus.
ReplyDeleteThe alternative could be the full-blown experience with the liberal arts requirements plus courses for the major. Students would be "well-rounded" by choice.
The market will determine whether the additional non-major courses produce a more employable graduate.
I know plenty of people who graduated from trade schools who have varied interests and whom I would consider to be well-rounded - they just picked up information elsewhere because it interested them.
Me, too. about the well rounded education.
ReplyDeleteI know that my exposure, in college, to both classical music and art, has made a big difference in my life. Some of my pleasures now, include classical and folk music concerts and art museums.
GRIN, and sometimes there is an over lap. I was first aware of Van Gogh's paintings due to the song "Starry, Starry Night."
I think it's also interesting that the courses they consider "unnecessary" and "irrelevant" are math courses. They add requirements in other areas. Since our kids have gone through college, I'vc seen an increase in the number of composition courses required, plus new diversity and environmental requirements.
ReplyDeleteLowering standards to make Happy-Happy data is a losing game. Algebra is logic, as is all math. I admit, I am an artist and taught art and math is NOT my thing, but math is necessary and training in HOW TO REASON is also an essential skill being eliminated by the current crop of "educational" professionals. Actual learning is being replaced by the type of rote indoctrination that we were taught was bad during the 1970's when I was in Education courses. Now indoctrination, or as I call it, brainwashing is teaching the "proper" answers in lieu of teaching students to read and ascertain the information. Dropping Algebra is just another step on the path of good intentions that will lead us to perdition. I promise you none of this nonsense applies in schools in Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Sweden, Germany or even the UK. It seems school leaders are more intent on lecturing small children on sexual issues than teaching them how to count and read. Once upon a time in the Renaissance, there was an understanding that Science, Math, Literature, Music and Art all originated from the human ability to reason.
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