|
|
|
0 members (),
312
guests, and
30
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,298
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,298 |
Just found this article in tomorrow's Times. It's about poor math education --- for gifted students --- in the U.S. Wow! You people will all be shocked to learn that a recent study has found that the United States is "failing to develop the math skills of both girls and boys, especially among those who could excel at the highest levels." It's nice to see this issue in print! V.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 347
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 347 |
Very interesting article.
I have the feeling that much of it could be applied to The Netherlands, at least I get this impression by looking at the math curriculum of the primary school. It is appallingly low....
Same goes for science by the way.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,231
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,231 |
Shocked........hee hee hee..........
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,815
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,815 |
Dr. Feng says that in China math is regarded as an essential skill that everyone should try to develop at some level. Parents in China, he said, view math as parents in the United States do baseball, hockey and soccer.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,231
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,231 |
On the other hand, look at the stereotypical super competitive sport parent. I've seen great coaches quit only because they didn't want to deal with some crazy parent.
Imagine that filtering into the classroom environment.
Yuck.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,815
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,815 |
Yes, they are going to psychotics no matter what field or endeavor. But I do feel there is a feeling that math is hard etc in this country. I've heard parents say "OH I was never any good in math either." this thought is filtered down to the kids. So they give up before they even get going. I think many parents would have no problem with paying money to have Johnny go to an expensive sports camp but wouldn't occur to them to hire a tutor to meet Johnny's math needs. It's just a different culture. Not that either is the best or to be emulated...
Last edited by Dazed&Confuzed; 10/10/08 06:48 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,231
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,231 |
Right, I'm not a fan of either extreme. I do think US culture floats at one of those extremes.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,145
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,145 |
Oh, I so agree, CFK! Well put!
Add to that the fact that most elementary school teachers have only the most basic math courses under their belts and consider themselves "bad" at math, it's not surprising that GT kids aren't getting what they need.
Shocked, indeed. :p
Kriston
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,840
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,840 |
My upper level and grad math classes had GT-Math kids from Eastern European countries. They were identified when they were very young and were mathematically mature in their teens. They were 2-4 years younger than us and and they were very, very good. It took a lot of hard work by me and others to keep up with them.
They had tremendous breadth across all fields and its applications and knew numbers and transformations and tricks and key ideas most of us never had heard of. They also knew how to prep for tests. It was eye-opening.
They lived and breathed math and had been schooled by the best teachers, some Nobel-caliber, in their nations among a group of their mental peers in a competitive, socratic setting. They got an omnibus education on all the hard sciences from a mathy perspective.
The US has nothing like this at all.
I would think there would be value in an omnibus curriculum that is aimed at generating a Post-Doc level intellect in several fields with a mathy-focus.
The other thing - is how many parents would willingly move to be near a school like this?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 639
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 639 |
The other thing - is how many parents would willingly move to be near a school like this? I would! (DW doesn't want to move though...) JB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
