Re: [MATHEDCC] Retention

B6j9y8@AOL.COM
Thu, 17 Apr 1997 08:29:42 -0400 (EDT)

I am a high school math teacher for 25 years-18 consecutive. . What is
happening, for those too young to remember, college prep math courses were
not for everyone. There were choices-general math, commercial, shop and
whatever other names they were given. Now, everyone must (?) go to college.
Years ago students dropped out to work b/c they couldn't handle the subjects
required of hs graduation. Now everyone graduates, courses have become more
difficult- there is 50 years more of math to learn, there is TV, there are
fragmented families, there is quick money to be made other ways. What do we
do in hs? Just what you do in cc. Try to reach most. To try to reach all is
impossible. Calculators have helped those who lack number sense in the fact
that if they plug in correctly, they will output correctly. No guarantee that
they have any concept of plugging in correctly or if the answer makes sense.
In some classes I do cover less but in more depth hoping that some
understanding will creep in and rote memorization will not be necessary. I
have a poster in my room saying "When am I ever going to need this?" Whenever
I introduce a new topic, the students run up to see whether or not it is
needed for what they think they may want to do. Sometimes you learn things
just b/c. Not everyone belongs in college -some should be steered to trade
schools etc. As long as schools take in all who apply (bottom line syndrome)
you will have the retention problems you post. I'm sure all of you know all
of this, but after all the messages on retention I felt I had to say my
piece.
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