Re: algebra uber alles

[Arthur Hu <ArthurH@TANGIS.COM>]

Hey, that's great. It's even more useless to give 2nd graders these wacko
guess
and check algebra problems that require doing 70 2 digit additions to
generate a
solution table when they're doing this before they even teach kids how to
multiply.
Then when they take 9th grade "integrated math", they don't even teach a
proper
solution method.


-----Original Message-----
From: Gerald W. Bracey [mailto:gbracey@EROLS.COM]
Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2000 7:35 AM
To: ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU
Subject: algebra uber alles


Although not strictly about testing, the attached piece does touch on some
of the follies of the standards movement and thus might be of interest and
amusement to those on the Assessment Reform Network.  The immediate stimulus
for the essay was Brigid Schulte's article in the Washington Post on the
importance of algebra following her earlier one on the scandal of the
algebra test in Montgomery County, MD.

Any editorial suggestions welcome.

Jerry