CB> -> "Rather, the development of algebraic reasoning 
CB> -> needs to begin in the
CB> -> early grades.  It should be interwoven with the learning of other
CB> -> mathematics and should continue through the school years as an
CB> -> integral part of the K-12 math curriculum."
CB> 
CB> Hmmm, a remake of "New Math"??
    Did you ever see a math prof's essay "Old Math, New Math, No Math" in the 
Chronicle of Higher Education several years ago?
    The prof argued that for most college majors, college students shouldn't 
be required to take college math to graduate: the courses they are forced to 
take are (very) soon forgotten, irrelevant to any other course they take in 
college, and irrelevant to their majors.
    I think the same argument could be made about _requiring_ math past 8th 
grade prealgebra: large numbers of students taking "mark-time" classes like 
General Math, material very soon forgotten, irrelevant to any courses they 
may ever take.
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