SK> This is the great tragedy, especially in view of the fact that the
SK> NCTM standards suggest that we must make every effort to get ALL of 
SK> our
SK> students through as much math as they can handle
    Many HS students can't handle advanced math courses, if only because math 
is a _sequential_ subject.
    Trying to teach some kid Algebra II when he never got a good grasp of 
junior-high prealgebra is an exercise in futility, since the kid would have 
to learn not only the Algebra II but two years of prealgebra skills in one 
year.
    "As much math as they can handle" is like saying "as much basketball as 
they can handle".  Some kids, like me in school, are just apathetic about 
sports (or math!) and/or lack any background...and won't be good candidates 
for the varsity team.
SK> other documents, like Math Counts, which suggest that the nation 
SK> needs
SK> a higher and higher percentage of it's working population to be 
SK> capable
SK> in math in order for us to continue to be viable economically.
    I question the logic of it.
    America is swamped in record underemployment of highly-educated workers.  
There is no 'shortage' of workers highly skilled in math when AT&T, IBM, 
Boeing, etc. are "downsizing" so many engineers out of work.
--- Simplex BBS (v1.07.00Beta [DOS])
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