This flak over the newly proposed Kentucky Commissioner of Education is interesting. I think Dr. Erwin is a poor candidate and that the BOE's real problem should rest with the search firm that did not ivnestigate her background as they were hired to do. Thoughts?

 

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/stories/050507whasckLocalSchoolBoard.3e34a22f.html

I actually had someone in Frankfort admit to the problem in Frankfort.

 

They were offering a workshop on bullying and thought they would have a handful and planned for 30-40. They have had 80 and closed the workshop.

 

They said they did not expect that turnout and said, "We sometimes forget what is going on in schools since we have been out of schools and in administration for too long."

 

The BOE is expected to meet expectations of politicians that do not meet the realities of schools.

 

For example, every student in HS is expected to take Geometry and Algebra II. EVERY STUDENT. EVERY STUDENT even if they are the lowest of lowest intelligence wise is expected to pass an Algebra II class that works with quadratic formulas and the like. How many times in your daily lives have you been given two ordered pairs and asked to draw a line figuring out the slope of the line from those two order pairs? EVERY STUDENT is expected to know this.

 

So we spend time teaching them to handle ordered pairs, when they can't figure out what 15% off of the priced shirt that want to buy at Walmart is. Or how much interest they are paying on their credit card account when they miss a payment and their APR jumps from 4.9% to 18.9%.

 

So the politicians pat themselves on the back because they are raising the expectations of kids and the reality is that we are not preparing kids to be contributors of society because of the whim of politicians.

Al Smith also weighed in on this topic in today's Herald-Leader.

 

Delay signing contract for education chief

Apparently, a BOE has objected to her:

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070505/NEWS01/705050423/

I actually had someone in Frankfort admit to the problem in Frankfort.

 

They were offering a workshop on bullying and thought they would have a handful and planned for 30-40. They have had 80 and closed the workshop.

 

They said they did not expect that turnout and said, "We sometimes forget what is going on in schools since we have been out of schools and in administration for too long."

 

The BOE is expected to meet expectations of politicians that do not meet the realities of schools.

 

For example, every student in HS is expected to take Geometry and Algebra II. EVERY STUDENT. EVERY STUDENT even if they are the lowest of lowest intelligence wise is expected to pass an Algebra II class that works with quadratic formulas and the like. How many times in your daily lives have you been given two ordered pairs and asked to draw a line figuring out the slope of the line from those two order pairs? EVERY STUDENT is expected to know this.

 

So we spend time teaching them to handle ordered pairs, when they can't figure out what 15% off of the priced shirt that want to buy at Walmart is. Or how much interest they are paying on their credit card account when they miss a payment and their APR jumps from 4.9% to 18.9%.

 

So the politicians pat themselves on the back because they are raising the expectations of kids and the reality is that we are not preparing kids to be contributors of society because of the whim of politicians.

 

If they can't do simple percentages, they aren't ready for Algebra II, but for me the issue should be, why aren't they ready. I'd carry it a step farther. I think all students of at least average ability should be taking calculus in high school. Algebra II isn't a very high goal. You can't fix it starting in high school. It has to start much earlier.

If they can't do simple percentages, they aren't ready for Algebra II, but for me the issue should be, why aren't they ready. I'd carry it a step farther. I think all students of at least average ability should be taking calculus in high school. Algebra II isn't a very high goal. You can't fix it starting in high school. It has to start much earlier.

In my opinion, its because they teach another math method, LCD. They teach to the Lowest Common Denominator. The classes only move as fast as their weakest student. Why force kids into Algebra II when they have no intention of going to college and will never use it? I'm all for segregation of classes by aptitude, but that's not politically correct anymore.

In my opinion, its because they teach another math method, LCD. They teach to the Lowest Common Denominator. The classes only move as fast as their weakest student. Why force kids into Algebra II when they have no intention of going to college and will never use it? I'm all for segregation of classes by aptitude, but that's not politically correct anymore.

Even if you stratify students, Algebra II by their senior year is not asking much.

Even if you stratify students, Algebra II by their senior year is not asking much.

Why do they need it? It wasn't required when I was in high school.

Even if you stratify students, Algebra II by their senior year is not asking much.

 

For most students, no...what about the ones that lack the aptitude to even do simple percentages? Will they ever be able to find the asymptotes of a hyperbola? Do they need to?

I actually had someone in Frankfort admit to the problem in Frankfort.

 

They were offering a workshop on bullying and thought they would have a handful and planned for 30-40. They have had 80 and closed the workshop.

 

They said they did not expect that turnout and said, "We sometimes forget what is going on in schools since we have been out of schools and in administration for too long."

 

The BOE is expected to meet expectations of politicians that do not meet the realities of schools.

 

For example, every student in HS is expected to take Geometry and Algebra II. EVERY STUDENT. EVERY STUDENT even if they are the lowest of lowest intelligence wise is expected to pass an Algebra II class that works with quadratic formulas and the like. How many times in your daily lives have you been given two ordered pairs and asked to draw a line figuring out the slope of the line from those two order pairs? EVERY STUDENT is expected to know this.

 

So we spend time teaching them to handle ordered pairs, when they can't figure out what 15% off of the priced shirt that want to buy at Walmart is. Or how much interest they are paying on their credit card account when they miss a payment and their APR jumps from 4.9% to 18.9%.

 

So the politicians pat themselves on the back because they are raising the expectations of kids and the reality is that we are not preparing kids to be contributors of society because of the whim of politicians.

 

Amen, LBBC.

Why do they need it? It wasn't required when I was in high school.

And your life was negatively affected how HHSDAD?

Education in KY is ALL politics an if you think different than you are mistaken.......

And your life was negatively affected how HHSDAD?

Don't go there. I took every advanced math course my school offered. However, I again ask, why does every student need Algebra II?

I have actually had students come to my pharmacy on the school to work program,with the intention of going to Pharmacy school,who had NO IDEA how to do a simple 7th grade (at least when I was in school), ratio and proportion problem. And I know for a FACT that the math teacher was teaching them this in class. But it comes down to this: What is the emphasis on the CATS test as far as core content in math...and what are they TESTING on this year!!! We teach to the test..not what is most useful,because the school system is reimbursed according to test scores!

Yes..to pass the kinetics class at the UK College of pharmacy,you have to know Algebra 2 and Calculus (especially doing the area under the curve). But to practice in the REAL world,if you can't handle ratio and proportion,you have no business with the public's life in your hands. To emphasize this,I have had students who were ADEPT at ordered numbers,graphs and plugging the numbers into the quadratic formula,who had NO CLUE how to tell me: if there are 125 mg of product x in 5 cc,how many cc does it take to get 100 mg.

I have actually had students come to my pharmacy on the school to work program,with the intention of going to Pharmacy school,who had NO IDEA how to do a simple 7th grade (at least when I was in school), ratio and proportion problem. And I know for a FACT that the math teacher was teaching them this in class. But it comes down to this: What is the emphasis on the CATS test as far as core content in math...and what are they TESTING on this year!!! We teach to the test..not what is most useful,because the school system is reimbursed according to test scores!

Yes..to pass the kinetics class at the UK College of pharmacy,you have to know Algebra 2 and Calculus (especially doing the area under the curve). But to practice in the REAL world,if you can't handle ratio and proportion,you have no business with the public's life in your hands. To emphasize this,I have had students who were ADEPT at ordered numbers,graphs and plugging the numbers into the quadratic formula,who had NO CLUE how to tell me: if there are 125 mg of product x in 5 cc,how many cc does it take to get 100 mg.

 

If you ever get one of my chemistry students in your pharmacy, they will definitely know how to do ratio and proportion problems...I preach it like a religion!