Subject: Topic Appropriateness
From: RAYFan@aol.com
Date: Thu Sep 14 2000 - 23:34:42 EDT
(I know that many in the list are not receiving posts... But I hope enough of
you are to get some responses to this.)
I have an important issue to ask the group about. I've been a regular on this
list for a few years, but am posting under another e-mail address, so you
don't know what college I'm talking about... When you see the issue at hand,
I think you'll know why.
My college is a typical community college in the US... We are teaching the
following topics -- I do NOT mean that we "introduce" them -- we DO them --
completely:
Galois Theory -- Yes, I mean 2nd semester graduate Galois Theory - along with
all Number Theory and Abstract Algebra required as prereq. -- this Galois
theory is done in our Discrete math course... Oh, yes, we do all the graph
theory, etc. too... This is a single semester course.
Tensors -- Schaum's Outline for Tensor Calculus
Manifolds -- Going through every page of Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds
(BTW, the tensors and manifolds are done in the same course.)
Differential Geometry (Gaussian Curvature, 1st and 2nd fundamental forms)
Exterior Algebras (differential forms, wedge product)
General Topology - Schaum's Outline for General Topology
Yes, this is at a community college. I've talked to the students... They are
clueless and have no hope of understanding these topics at this stage...
Also, their pathetic efforts to learn this material is taking important
energies away from their regular studies.
You may be saying, "But, these students would need, at the very least, one
year of junior level analysis for these topics!"
We do that too... In our single semester freshman honors Calculus course.
I've checked our state's education code and it clearly states that the
community college is only allowed to teach material that is appropriate to
the first two years.
Can teaching these topics at a community college be legal? I've seen first
hand, over and over again, how it screws the students over. They are clearly
not ready for it. They are told, "If you aren't getting this, then your
study habits aren't good enough - You won't be able to compete when you
transfer."
Many in our dept. agree that these topics are not appropriate, but it has
become an ugly political issue. Most are afraid to speak up. I am one of
the few people willing to say anything and I've gotten a lot of heat for it.
I need advice! I need opinions! Are these topics appropriate? Are these
topics legal?
Is there some outside person (possibly from AMATYC?) who can come in and
review the program?
Thanks,
Ray
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