Steven G
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2014
- Messages
- 14,405
For the most part, math is not taught correctly. I have asked my students, who were college students, if I was the first math teacher that required them to think. They basically all responded yes. This is a severe problem. I once sat in a graduate level cryptography class for education major. All the students were current high school math teacher. The instructor thanked me for sitting in the class because he, a very recent PhD, said he was going to quit his job if it wasn't for me. These teachers knew nothing about math. Even I was sad seeing this.
All the helpers on this forum clearly understand that the students need to understand what is really going on and stop memorizing all their math. My daughter's friend got a 97% on her NYS Algebra 1 regents (not an easy test at all) and I was horrified at how little she really understood. It is a shame because this young girl could understand math but no one teaches it to her. What a shame!
I am wondering what we helpers can do? I am not sure what improvements there will be but maybe, as pka said, the minimum requirement to teach math at high school is to have a degree in math and education (I guess) and maybe even a masters in math. Maybe a real test that future teaches must pass with an A. How on earth can you receive a grade other than an A in courses that you want to teach!? There has to be something that can be done.
All the helpers on this forum clearly understand that the students need to understand what is really going on and stop memorizing all their math. My daughter's friend got a 97% on her NYS Algebra 1 regents (not an easy test at all) and I was horrified at how little she really understood. It is a shame because this young girl could understand math but no one teaches it to her. What a shame!
I am wondering what we helpers can do? I am not sure what improvements there will be but maybe, as pka said, the minimum requirement to teach math at high school is to have a degree in math and education (I guess) and maybe even a masters in math. Maybe a real test that future teaches must pass with an A. How on earth can you receive a grade other than an A in courses that you want to teach!? There has to be something that can be done.