Re: Algebra I for all 8th graders

[Marilyn Langlois <langlois-rine@comcast.net>]

Hey, when did you last factor polynomials, or use the quadratic formula??  I
last did it when my daughter took algebra I and needed help with her
homework.  Maybe she can do this again when her kids take algebra I.

It's clearly an artificial screening system to sort students, as we see in
so many ways.

I bet no one in the state capitol knows how to factor polynomials!!

Marilyn



> From: Susan Harman <susanharman@igc.org>
> Reply-To: ca-resisters@interversity.org
> Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:52:40 -0400
> To: ca-resisters@interversity.org
> Subject: Re: [ca-resisters] Algebra I for all 8th graders
> 
> Why not for 2nd graders?
> Susan
> 
> On Thursday, July 10, 2008, at 10:14 PM, George Sheridan wrote:
> 
>> Why not calculus for all sixth graders? Apparently Governor
>> Schwarzenegger
>> believes that if we require something, no matter how difficult, all
>> students can
>> do it, especially if he promises to come up with money after solving
>> the current
>> structural budget deficit.
>> 
>> California 8th-graders face algebra mandate
>> =======================================================================
>> =========
>> 
>> 
>> By Deb Kollars - dkollars@sacbee.com
>> 
>> Published Thursday, July 10, 2008
>> Story appeared in The Sacramento Bee MAIN NEWS section, Page A13
>> 
>> 
>> The California State Board of Education agreed Wednesday to do
>> something that no
>> state in the nation has attempted: put every eighth-grader in public
>> school
>> through Algebra 1.
>> 
>> The tough new requirement, which takes hold in three years, is
>> expected to send
>> shock waves across middle schools throughout the state. Currently,
>> half of
>> California's eighth-graders enroll in Algebra 1 ­ a high rate compared
>> with other
>> states. But the other half is struggling mightily with basic sixth- and
>> seventh-grade mathematics.
>> 
>> The 8-1 board decision drew deeply polarized responses from educators,
>> politicians and business leaders. Among the strongest voices was Gov.
>> Arnold
>> Schwarzenegger, who urged the change in an unexpected letter to board
>> members
>> Tuesday.
>> 
>> "Today's decision sends a signal to the rest of the nation that
>> California has
>> faith in our students to achieve their dreams and exceed expectations,"
>> Schwarzenegger said in a statement issued Wednesday. "California's
>> children have
>> already proven that when we set the bar high ­ they can do anything."
>> 
>> Many others were outraged. They said it was unfair and unrealistic to
>> expect
>> every 13- and 14-year-old student to master the notoriously difficult
>> subject
>> without a massive infusion of cash to pay for books, computer
>> programs, more
>> class time and more qualified teachers.
>> 
>> The subject, which involves abstractions and solving for the unknown,
>> is
>> considered critical not just as a mathematical foundation, but for
>> developing
>> critical thinking. Although many students succeed in algebra before
>> getting to
>> high school, others are still struggling with fractions, decimals and
>> exponents
>> and need more time, educators said.
>> 
>> "We're setting every school up for failure," said state Superintendent
>> of Public
>> Instruction Jack O'Connell, who argued passionately against the move.
>> "It's going
>> to be a firestorm in our state."
>> 
>> He noted that although California has high levels of enrollment, many
>> students
>> are not mastering the subject. Testing even more unprepared students
>> will lead to
>> more low test scores that will bring more penalties to schools under
>> the federal
>> No Child Left Behind regulations, O'Connell and others said.
>> 
>> O'Connell also raised concerns about the current budget crisis and
>> said schools
>> could not afford to implement the eighth-grade algebra requirement.
>> 
>> Schwarzenegger's secretary of education, David Long, acknowledged
>> during the
>> meeting that it could cost billions to enable all eighth-graders to
>> succeed in
>> Algebra 1. When pressed about paying for it, Long expressed confidence
>> that the
>> state would solve its immediate budget impasse, but did not say how or
>> when the
>> state would cover the new algebra bills.
>> 
>> To many, Wednesday's decision was not only huge, it came out of the
>> blue.
>> 
>> Until the day before, the state board was set to debate a new and
>> easier Algebra
>> 1 exam for certain eighth-graders. The new test was created to appease
>> the U.S.
>> Department of Education, which found California out of compliance in
>> testing
>> students. The department noted California's academic standards call
>> for Algebra 1
>> in eighth grade, yet half of eighth-graders are tested at lower sixth-
>> and
>> seventh- grade levels.
>> 
>> The federal government told California to either enforce the standard
>> for all
>> students by enrolling and testing them in Algebra 1 within three
>> years, or
>> develop an alternate test with some ­ but not all ­ Algebra 1 concepts
>> for
>> students not completing the full subject.
>> 
>> The state chose to develop the new test, O'Connell said, to promote
>> both rigor
>> and flexibility.
>> 
>> The exam, which covered 15 of the state's 29 individual standards for
>> Algebra 1,
>> became controversial. Some critics called it "Algebra Light."
>> Department leaders
>> said it was the best compromise for meeting the federal guidelines,
>> and put it on
>> Wednesday's agenda for adoption.
>> 
>> Late Tuesday, however, Schwarzenegger transformed the debate with his
>> letter. In
>> it, he urged state board members to skip the alternative algebra test
>> and instead
>> take the leap of putting all eighth-graders through a full course of
>> Algebra 1.
>> 
>> The governor argued that a two-tiered system was inequitable. His
>> message
>> resonated with many who have been concerned about the well-documented
>> disparity
>> in achievement among children who are poor, African American or Latino.
>> 
>> For the next 24 hours, people rallied on each side. They sent out
>> press releases
>> with exclamation points. They called in colleagues to testify. They
>> packed the
>> chambers to witness the long and historic board session.
>> 
>> After listening to several hours of testimony, board members offered
>> their own
>> impassioned views.
>> 
>> "I think we've got to set our standards higher, not lower," said board
>> member
>> Greg Jones. "A two-tiered system is going to be unequal."
>> 
>> Member David Lopez agreed: "We need bold innovative action to make
>> things
>> happen," he said.
>> 
>> Board member James Aschwanden, who cast the only dissenting vote,
>> cautioned that
>> the policy change was "hatched in the last 48 hours" and had serious
>> implications
>> for children and schools that were not being addressed.
>> 
>> "I'm embarrassed for us, quite frankly," Aschwanden said. "Not all
>> children are
>> developmentally ready to take algebra in eighth grade."
>> 
>> Several board members said they wanted to hold Schwarzenegger
>> accountable for
>> providing money for the new algebra requirement. In his letter, the
>> governor said
>> he was "committed" to providing the needed resources.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> George Sheridan
>> 
>> 
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