Math wars: SFUSD unveils three options for Algebra 1 with decision in February https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sfusd-math-wars-algebra-18626283.php It's stupid to allow teaching algebra in middle school. I am all for levelling the playing field and it has been proved that teaching algebra serves no purposes other than contributing to racial inequality. Algebra should only be allowed in college.
Algebra 1 should be an advance option as early as elementary school (I kid, just a tad bit). But definitely by middle school.
Taking AP calc is a strong gateway for succeeding in STEM majors. The issue is that being good in trig, algebra, and pre-calc doesn't mean you'll be good in Calc. Algebra is an unavoidable step in that tech tree... I also think doing calc in hs is better than in college because college is generally less structured for learning and if you're tanking ap calc midway, it should serve as a wakeup call to improve study habits. Ofc there are those who want to let kids be kids, but that's rolling the dice with vegas odds while hoping stupid kids don't stay stupid and undeservedly super confident.
This reminds me of my 8th grade Algebra, or lack thereof. I was a disruptive student, and was written off. The successful (e.g. well-to-do) kids would be in Algebra I as 8th graders and Geometry I as 9th graders. But that slight (and calling it a slight glosses over how disappointed I was) led me me to 1. get a job making $5/hr 2. save up so I could pay a teacher $2000 for geometry tutoring during the summer between 9th grade and 10th grade to "catch up" to my peers and 3. to act better so people would not write me off for being a poor teenager in a poor part of Ohio. 24 years later, I am funding a DEI scholarship for poor and URMs.
I know the feeling...I didn't have a care in the world about those classes but did manage them except I made money as a kid doing the odd jobs. Sold certain products on eBay and I was king of my imaginary castle for a while. My first legit job was working hard labor at the Port of Houston throwing sacks of rice around and repairing electronics on the side. I can confidently say...I never wanna do that again in my life and enjoy working at a refinery. If the good Lord gives me another few more years of good luck I'll be retiring in 2027.
