Pubkeybreaker wrote:
> On May 14, 9:33 am, Penny Gaines <pe...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> Beliavsky wrote:
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>>> Most people are not smart enough to go to college, but they can be
>>> productive members of society. People who have not mastered algebra
>>> should not be in college in the first place.
>> Why not?
>>
>> Probably one factor in your view is your opinion of what college is
for.
>> I don't want to speak for individuals, but it seems that Americans
>> tend to think of college as being a place to provide a broad knowledge
>> in several subject areas, whereas in the UK the aim of tertiary
>> education is to continue the specialisation that students started when
>> they were 14yo.
>
> There is some merit in this view.
>
> However, the problem under discussion is not limited to mathematics.
> Many of today's college students can not write either. Too many
> colleges are having to give "remedial bonehead English" courses,
> in addition to remedial math courses.
Are they giving remedial English to the same students who are getting
remedial maths?
[snip]
> I quote RAH:
>
> Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best
> he is a
> tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe, and not make
> messes
> in the house.
Interestig viewpoint. However even quite elementary mathematics tasks
(such as multiplying two digit numbers) require use of a complex variety
of brain functions, enough to prove that it is not an innate skill.
[snip]
> I would also argue that if one is going to be a responsible citizen
> who
> votes, then one needs mathematics and science to keep from getting
> conned by political soundbites with respect to issues such as
> global warming, environmental issues, resource issues etc. One also
> needs
> to be able to *****s false use of statistics to promote political
> agenda.
>
> Hey! This is a terrific idea! Let's drop the REQUIREMENT for math
> and
> science. Make it optional. At the same time, let's only allow people
> to
> vote who have shown reasonable mastery of both subjects!!!
Well, that would provide one model of society (maybe you would also have
needed to be in the armed forces as well).
>> Wouldn't you say that being able to read complex written do***ents and
>> being able to select the most relevant points is a major part of
>> "critical thinking skills", and is irrelevant to algebra.
>
> No, I would not, if the do***ent deals with ANY technical issue.
> Otherwise, how would one know if an argument were bogus???
Isn't it more im****tant to know whether the argument is relevant?
(And if an argument is relevant, I would have thought a basic
understanding of statistics is more likely to be useful.)
--
Penny Gaines
UK mum to three
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