Virginia to eliminate all accelerated math courses before 11th grade as part of equity-focused plan

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is moving to eliminate all accelerated math options prior to 11th grade, effectively keeping higher-achieving students from advancing as they usually would in the school system.

Loudoun County school board member Ian Serotkin posted about the change via Facebook on Tuesday. According to Serotkin, he learned of the change the night prior during a briefing from staff on the Virginia Mathematics Pathway Initiative (VMPI).

As currently planned, this initiative will eliminate ALL math acceleration prior to 11th grade," he said. "That is not an exaggeration, nor does there appear to be any discretion in how local districts implement this. All 6th graders will take Foundational Concepts 6. All 7th graders will take Foundational Concepts 7. All 10th graders will take Essential Concepts 10. Only in 11th and 12th grade is there any opportunity for choice in higher math courses."

During a webinar posted on YouTube in December, a member of the "essential concepts" committee claimed that the new framework would exclude traditional classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry.

Committee member Ian Shenk, who focused on grades 8-10, said: "Let me be totally clear, we are talking about taking Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 – those three courses that we've known and loved ... and removing them from our high school mathematics program, replacing them with essential concepts for grade eight, nine, and 10."

A Loudoun parent who spoke on the condition of anonymity worried that the changes would "lower standards for all students in the name of equity."

https://www.foxnews.com/us/virginia-accelerated-math-courses-equity

So many thoughts come to mind, none of them pleasant. So, instead of identifying talented, bright kids with mathematical abilities and encourage, inspire and support them, Virginia skruls is gonna dumb them down and hold them down, in the name of equity and race relations and social justice and critical race and as a testament to martyr George Floyd and whatever else, so the dumb kids feel better about themselves.

This is how equality works in socialism, everyone is brought down to the lowest level of achievement and common denominator so the goof-off kids don't feel bad about not being as smart as Valedictorian.

And in conclusion - what the State of Virginia is telling their black population that their children are stupid. in my time, low-performing students were placed in 'Special Ed', and the smart kids took advanced classes in order to excel to their maximum potential (regardless of race). Holding back high achieving students, to artificially give minority students an advantage, is yet another screwball Democrat idea, which weakens America's ability to compete with the world.

There.

 

America is DOOMED.

Start practising with chopsticks. Wouldn't hurt to learn a bit of Mandarin, while you're at it.

 

Race to the bottom to appease the dumbest. Now don’t get me wrong, neither of my children are geniuses. They’re doing well but they’re not going to be Valedictorian or straight As. I would NEVER expect that because my daughter is average in Math, that they should make it easier. Screw that. If she wants to get better than Bs, she needs to work harder.

 

Sounds like step in the further dumbing down of American students??

 

The Leftists / Globalists in control require a stupid population. It's how the Democrats have any chance at power.

 

Under socialism everyone is equally miserable and poor. Under liberalism everyone is going to be equally dumb.

 

I really dunno if America will ever recover from dumbing down by the equalization and dumbing down. We must have our own bright, well-educated, aggressive (in a good sense of the word) kids, or we won't be able to compete with the Chinese and the russkies.

 

Holy... we agree on something

 

Why were the courses changed?

What are they trying to accomplish?

How do they feel this will accomplish that?

Your post as is means nothing. It is a construct to attack a group you dislike.

I need to know the whole story, I am not a mindless Trumpist who watches Fox.

 

At this point it doesn't matter. China has earned the right to own us, because they stayed tough and responsible. They've never been afraid of work, or of tough love.

I'll gladly give The Soy West to them at this point- and not least because sensible and practical Westerners actually do quite well in their culture. It won't be that weird at all - in fact it will be a welcome return to something like good social health, work ethics, solid families, and zero tolerance of the destructive vanities of the Baizuo.

 

So to gain equity let's dumb down the top, what a great idea.

 

1) A reduction of future employment prospects for their treasured underclass.
2) By lowering standards for all, instead of fostering ambitious hard working kids.
3) How can anyone 'like' this move, or the people behind it?
4) I'm a raving Lefty and I can see it for what it is.

 

What's really perplexing is that ANYONE thinks this isn't a deliberate act against our young people (with a view to rendering them useless and therefore dependent).

A child can see how this will play out - so 'educated adults' trying to claim it's some kind of boon to the people, is berserker level lies. Those who fall for it are either on board with the fostering of dependence, or dumber than a box of very dumb rocks.

 

You can't possibly as there is not enough information available on the net yet to understand the what, why or where. I just finished a search.

The editorial like reporting from Fox is valueless.

If you find some links, I'd love to review them.

Thanks

 

Thank you, Democrats

 

So... read the OP, and you'll know the whole story!

Jee.

 

YOU'RE a lefty? Raving or any other kind?

Whatever your talent it surely isn't the political placement of yourself.

Do high Schools still have grades? I thought they just had classes you went to if you qualified, like colleges

Is anyone preventing smarter kids from going ahead on their own?

Higher math, I've been told, is like Art. Instruction can actually hold you back, particularly if you're smarter than your teacher

 

I read the OP and did a search on the internet after as the OP link is purposely slanted and way past vague.

I am unlike you, I do not take propaganda at face value. I need facts and context, none are given anywhere on the net. This makes me further skeptical of the inference in the OP.

You would benefit from a more analytical, less tribal dogma diet.

Did you even look past the OP?

I know you didn't.
Not good.
Peace

 

I echo @mentor59 's comments: where in your links does it say ANYTHING about this program being tied to a RACIAL initiative? And if you have no credible source for your allegations, what causes you to arrive at that conclusion? Also, what shred of evidence do you possess to tie this new policy to SOCIALISM? It would seem you are just using blacks & socialists as scapegoats, demonstrating your clear animus towards those groups (if you can produce any factual connection, I will gladly retract my observation).

As to the program itself, it is a mixed bag. It is misguided, in removing avenues for the math-talented to advance. However, not forcing the majority of students (who won't be able to do simple math in their head, a few years out of school) to take Algebra & Geometry classes, makes sense: all should graduate high school with a MASTERY of, at least, basic math.

There are some, however, who have the capacity for much more than that, & it is a terrible shame to stifle their pursuits. To be fair, though, we are only talking about a small number of kids who would be driven, out of interest, to take advanced classes before 11th grade. The majority of those who currently do take 10th grade Geometry, for example, won't enjoy it, or wind up in a job that requires advanced mathematics education; they're taking it just because it will look good on their high school transcript (& possibly to save themselves the need to take some class in college).

 

With the increasing actions of China investing in our education system, is it not surprising how it’s being dumbed down? Who is bribing those in charge of education to do these actions?

 

If there a lowering of the standard of math, then it doesn't matter who reported it or how. It's the action which is the problem here, FFS.

 

@mentor59

Did you see Adfundum's post? He gives better links.

http://www.politicalforum.com/index...f-equity-focused-plan.587264/#post-1072586391

https://utexas.app.box.com/s/gsmbf9o91lwhyfbzsevdv7c01mctqxuv

 

1) I get it .. you're one of these 'I only know about the Faux Leftism, as LARPed by Progressives and Aristocrats', ain't ya. Bless ya heart.

2) Of course. Accelerated grades are designed to cater for kids who want to do well and have the work ethic to make it happen. They need to be working ahead, and schools play a part in that.

3) Sure, but it's easier for them to get further ahead if school backs up what they're doing at home.

4) BS. Math is plain old application and work.

 

Progressives. You'll need to ask them who they're simping for.