Arnold wants to pump up eighth-grade math tests
By Katy Murphy
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 at 10:14 am in NCLB, Schwarzenegger, test scores.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks California’s general math tests are too weak for the state’s eighth-graders.
Today, the state board of education is expected to approve a change in the eighth-grade general math tests, which, until now, have measured sixth- and seventh-grade skills. But Schwarzenegger wants the state board to drop the general math exam altogether and require all eighth-graders to take the Algebra 1 exam instead.
In 2007, about half of Oakland’s eighth-grade students took the Algebra I STAR test, slightly above the statewide average. About 36 percent took the General Math exam. Six percent took geometry (Not sure about the other 6 percent).
In a letter dated yesterday, Schwarzenegger writes:
The State Board must choose whether we align the eighth-grade mathematics test with our high expectations or perpetuate a two-track system: one for high achievers and one for those of whom we expect less. This fork in the road is a choice between California’s bold future and a status quo that is safe, mediocre and unacceptable.
And, this morning, California State University Chancellor Charles Reed wrote a letter with the same request.
It seems unlikely that the board will reverse course and drop the general math exam entirely, but do you think Schwarzenegger has a point?
image from herzeleyd’s Web site at flickr.com/creativecommons
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July 9th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
All politicians should have to spend a couple of years teaching high-need students before they spout off.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I don’t understand why people who have never been teachers, especially in an urban area, think they know what is best for the students. Amazing!!!
July 9th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I just don’t understand the reasoning behind this. Not all kids are Algebra-ready by the time they are in 8th grade for so many reasons. But one of the most important has to do with the fact that perhaps, just perhaps, many students aren’t developmentally ready for Algebra. Until a decade or so ago, California students weren’t required to take Algebra until 9th grade unless they were GATE-identified (GATE: Gifted and Talented Education), and those who were really advanced in Math, took Algebra in 7th grade and Geometry in 8th. And in most of the states of the US (if not all), Algebra is taught in 9th grade. Thanks to the Dept. of Ed. deciding that 8th graders should learn Algebra in 8th, there was a domino effect forcing the Language Arts curriculum to shift down. This is why we have Reading, Writing, and Math being taught to kindergartners and why 1st graders are expected to know how to read, write and do math on the 1st day of school in CA unlike in the rest of the US where 1st graders learn how to read, write and do math in 1st grade. In our very under-funded school system, you would think Schwarzenegger could focus on something vitally important, such as reducing class size to 20 for all classes, K-12, and not just K-3. And in the early grades, having class sizes of 15 to 1. But that would take too much of a commitment to the education of our children.
In NJ, where I have many friends and family members who are teachers, at the middle and high school level, a large class is 24 students and an average class is 16-18. How about that? And they learn Algebra in 9th grade and start to learn Reading, Writing and Math in 1st grade. But they fund their schools.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I agree with the governor of California on this issue, even though I may not agree with his other decisions (like school budget cutting). The math standards for students in California, as well as the U.S. , is just pathetic compared to other countries like Japan or France.
I live in an urban area and i find it sad how students in 11th grade have trouble with basic math. In my opinion, this is because the teachers are “babying” the kids when they’re in middle school. They underestimate abilities of kids which eventually causes the kids to fall behind. If the kids aren’t doing well, they should be giving them more practice. How else would students get better in math without practice? I’ve seen some of the baddest kids excel in math because teachers push them.
In my opinion, algebra should be taught in 6th grade. Basic math should already be mastered in elementary school, not in 8th grade. Seriously, why spend 6 years+ teaching kids how to add 2+2? The educational standards of this country is just too low, and I believe the governor is doing the right thing.
Younger teachers might agree with me. We aren’t in the 60s anymore. In my experience, older teachers have ALWAYS underestimated my abilities as opposed to younger teachers. We appreciate what the older generation of teachers have done for us, but you guys seriously just need to retire and let the newer generation take over. Stop underestimating and babying us!
and to students who just don’t care, don’t stick them with kids that care. All you’re really doing by doing that is slowing down the progress of the kids who are putting in the effort.
I’m not in GATE (and i never was even offered the chance to be in it, and i’m proud of that fact) and I took algebra in 8th grade, geometry in 9th grade, and then finished a college semester of Calculus 1 by the end of 10th grade.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Arnold is elected by the people of this state and is entitled to “spout off”. He speaks for the electorate.
Of course, he’s european. He will approach this with a point of view not seen at OUSD for example.
I hope this works.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Some students are just not developmentally ready for algebra in 8th grade. Let’s see the evidence that pushing all kids into algebra in 8th grade results in better outcomes in later years. I am willing to bet it doesn’t. I think it just drives those children who struggle further and further from math and, in turn, science, cementing in their minds that they “just can’t handle” math.
And to the Oakland alum who thinks we baby students — some children just do not learn math using the conventional methods used in most classrooms. Yes, if you just keep going over the same curriculum without success, you will be teaching 2+2 for 8 years. It is only when curriculums are suited to learning styles that we will have success for more students. Look at what the math department at Montera middle school does with its math class for kinesthetic learners. It doesn’t baby them, but it does use different methods and techniques to pull the kids up to grade level.
Of course, once you get beyond the classroom you are talking about all kinds of issues, influences, etc. that can negatively impact a child’s ability to learn. I don’t want to hear another comparison to Japan, France or Austria unless you factor in the national health care systems, availability of high quality child-care or the homogenous nature of the society in those countries.