Are the high schools becoming soft on students ?

Question

I have students in my college calculus class that can't do simple algebra. I suspect the high schools are not doing a good job.

I remember when I was in high school, I had about 4 to 5 hours of homework every night. I also remember, if a student didn't complete an assignment the teacher would call the parents. Do high school teachers still implement this ?

There is a problem with the K-12 curriculum and it needs to be fixed.

There needs to be tougher rules and regulations.

Let me know what you think and what can be done.

Answer 1

I don't know how school used to be back in the day, but if high schools ARE getting soft, it's because middle schools aren't doing a very good job. I didn't learn a thing in 8th grade math (well, I learned something, but not that much) so I failed 9th grade algebra. It might be because I didn't learn much in middle school, and it might be because I don't like math (I'm more of a writer) Although I don't like math, I think it depends on the teacher. Today was my first day of 10th grade and in Geometry, we learned something I had never even heard of in 10 minutes, and I totally understood it.

Answer 2

Yes. They have become a joke.

The only challenge at all are AP classes but still, those are easily done.

Answer 3

School is harder than it was years ago.  Cliques, are just the main problem.  Some schoolwork is hard for some students because of learning disabilities. I have a learning disability and I know simple algebra isn't my cup of tea.  Corporal punishment should not be a part of what schools do, that's for prisons.  

Answer 4

I agree with you.  I quit high school at 15 because I was bored out of my mind.  They keep teaching the same curriculum over and over again.  When I was in high school (for one year), I noticed it was more of a popularity contest than anything else.  I saw kids snorting ridilin in the bathrooms.  I saw them smoking marijuana in their cars at lunch.  I was a popular girl, so I saw a lot of terrible things.  So, I spoke to my mother, and she agreed to let me take the proficiency exam.  I didn't study for it at all. We figured I'd try to pass, but if I didn't, I'd study for it the next time...  but I DID pass.  At 15 (I am not a genius), I passed the test.  I guess I'd already learned everything I needed to know in high school during that one year.  From there, I went to college.  During the entrance exams, I tested average....  so I was in most of the same classes as other entry level students (no remedial classes for me).

I'm not tooting my own horn, here.  Nope.  I am of average intelligence.  I am not special.  However, I DO have a mother who helped me with my homework.  My mom gave me supplemental reading material.  My mother would plan activities that would tie in to what I was learning in school.  My mother was (is) a single parent working two jobs, but she always made sure she was all over my back about my education.

If parents took more of an interest in the education of their children, then we wouldn't have such mentally retarded (not retarded as in legal handicap, but retarded as in stunted in growth) kids.  I was doing (very basic) algebra in the fourth grade.  My mom would sneak it in my homework.  She also made it a point to work the algebra into real life using word problems.  My mom is no dummy!  She's not a genius, either.

Look, you are obviously talking about public school.  What do you expect?  It's BECAUSE of the "tougher rules and regulations" that the kids are so stupid.  If the kids don't test well, then the school gets less funding...  so, the teachers only teach what's going to be on the test.  TESTING is another problem altogether.  Also, those same "rules and regulations" protect crappy teachers from getting fired.  Teacher's should have to WORK at it to keep their jobs - that's what they do in charter schools.  Public schools train kids to regurgitate useless information, but they rarely make it fun.  I will never forget all the 50 states because I remember a song reciting them all in alphabetical order.  My mom taught me lots of songs.  I know all the presidents from a song (and over the last 15 years or so, some derogatory verses have been added about Clinton and Bush).  

When I have children (I'm 27 now - not planning kids until AT LEAST 35), I plan to send them to either a private school or a charter school.  Charter schools encourage parent involvement.  Public school is a waste of time.