This is a great idea.
 

After years of complaining that school systems outside of the USA are way ahead in math and science someone decided to do something about it.

Every California eighth-grader will be tested in algebra -- ready or not -- under a policy approved Wednesday that could make the state the first in the nation to require an upper-level math class before high school.

The state Board of Education voted for the change under pressure from federal officials and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who broke months of silence by siding this week with advocates who want algebra to become mandatory in eighth grade within three years.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,4784066.story

My son just finished his Algebra/Geometry course in 7th grade and it required parental involvement. Yeah, we knew what his curriculum had in store for him (and us) and we were ready - but if kids who have NO parental involvement in their homework try to tackle Algebra as standard fare education that's going to be a shock to the system.

When I was going to school in the early 80's kids were deemed "ready" for Algebra when they were in 9th grade. Good luck, Cali.

:iagree: Re the "NO parental involvement in their homework" issue. That's when other students step up and help their peers. My grand daughter did this for a number of students all thru school, and we did the same when i went to school.

If a student wants to get through the educational maze it's important to stop complaining about this and that, put down the cell phones, and the iPods, pull their pant's up, put forth the effort to get it done period.

My son just finished 8th grade in FL. He had "Honors Algebra I" and it counted as his first high school class. If we lament our society falling behind in certain tech areas, we have to push forward. This is one good way to do it.

Wow, in MD I was taking Geometry my first year of high school.

I keep going back to the Frederick Douglass special....as long as there are pockets like that....it would be hard to succeed.

My future kids are going to be screwed... I barely know the multiplication table..

How anyone could expect that I might remember something, I was taught when I was 14 and have never used since, is beyond me.

No one should expect you to be rich, good looking AND brilliant. It just wouldn't be fair. ;)

Maybe they would become college dropouts, become political pundits like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and make meeeellions of dollars.

I haven't used algebra since first year undergrad. What they need to focus on, in addition to algebra, is a mastery of written and spoken english. Text messaging shorthand will be the fall of the written english language.

You don't really have a choice in the middle school years... You read their text book and teach them. When they hit high school I'm afraid courses like trig, calculus, physics, etc. are a bit too deep to catch up on with an occassional read of their text book. Your role will be to hook them up with an upper-classman or college age tutor. In a highly competitive environment you'll find lots of kids with tutors - not to play catch-up, but to stay-up and get ahead.

Oh, and Spanish, too, if Obama is president... His quote, not mine :)