Subject: Re: Topic Appropriateness
From: Abraham S. Mantell (mantell@polar.sunynassau.edu)
Date: Fri Sep 15 2000 - 12:08:10 EDT
I would guess that Ray (who began this thread) was "hyperbolizing"
(as in "hyperbole" not "hyperbola") just to get the discussion going on
appropriateness of topics. Yes Ray???
Abe Mantell
Mathematics Department
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY 11530-6793
On Fri, 15 Sep 2000, William Colburn wrote:
> I would first like to ask: At what US Community College do you teach?
>
> Bill Colburn
>
>
> >(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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>
> As long as there are tests, there WILL be prayer in schools.
>
> William E. Colburn, Jr.
> Mathematics Department
> MiraCosta College
> One Barnard Drive
> Oceanside, CA 92056-3899
> 760-757-2121-6249
> web -- http://www.miracosta.cc.ca.us/home/bcolburn
> e-mail -- bcolburn@mcc.miracosta.cc.ca.us
>
> ...e^(i*pi) + 1 = 0 e^(i*pi) + 1 = 0 e^(i*pi) + 1 = 0...
>
>
>
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