Wha..? I mean... you can't be serious, right?

[freeptop]

I'm just about reduced to gibberish by this one:
'Mr. Palermo, also a math teacher, rehashed this point again before the board during the public comment section.

He pointed out that the existing policy could jeopardize students who might be in the running for athletic scholarships.

And, he said, it was unreasonable to expect every student to get above a D in math.

"A quarter of our students are special [education]. Do we honestly think all of these kids can get a D in math?" he said.'
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10302/1099010-298.stm
(Bolded for emphasis by me).

I'm sorry, but yes, it is quite reasonable to expect every student to get above a D in math. If they aren't, then you aren't teaching it properly. And yes, that includes special needs kids. Special needs kids can learn, you just have to figure out how they learn, and help them.

I am furious about this. I'm just glad it isn't the school district I'm living in right now.

Comments

[freeptop.livejournal.com]

I was already pretty annoyed by this, as the whole thing is really about letting athletes getting away with not learning anything, but the above quote drove me over the edge.

Oh no, half the football team was benched because they were doing poorly in school! We can't have that! We'd better amend the rules to make sure they can play again!

What utter bullshit. And people wonder why American kids are doing poorly in math and science?

[ls56.livejournal.com]

How are those kids going to graduate college if they can't meet average requirements in high school?

I've heard tell that Joe Paterno told his football players that a C on any assignment got them benched. Now that's a standard.

[kasra-c.livejournal.com]

What a surprise, Sto-Rox. Guess who used to be the head football coach there? (Though seeing as how I'm pretty sure at least one of his kids couldn't get a C in math, it's probably why it's been implemented since he retired.)

Just disgusting.

[vanessasquest.livejournal.com]

He DOES realize they have different LEVEL math classes, right? I mean, yes, I'm doubting a kid with special needs is going to excel in HONORS ADVANCED MATH FOR ROCKET-SURGEONS but still... (rocket surgery being a noble art even more challenging than brain surgery OR rocket science). It just proves that people who teach with math were people who liked math but were really too stupid to figure out exactly WHAT you can do with the degree... because they did NOT take the special advanced classes. XD ((Reminds me of one of my own math teachers who sputtered at the question what can you do with math... to this day I would love to educate the idiot about it instead of "ah... uh... ah... uh... teach!" and just start listing off engineering, architecture, statistician, scientist, rocket-scientist, weapons contractor, epidemiologist, accountant, economist, etc... XD))

[freeptop.livejournal.com]

The proper response, really, is more like "what can't you do with math?" ;)

[vanessasquest.livejournal.com]

Pardon the quick response-- get laid? XD

[freeptop.livejournal.com]

Clearly, you've never heard of the Marriage Algorithm! :D

[vanessasquest.livejournal.com]

LoL, clearly neither have most members of the mathematic community? XD kidding, anyhow-- post halloween pics of Eric trick-or-treating! XD