281 replies to this topic

[jemstride]

monza gorilla, on Mar 4 2007, 06:46 PM, said:

I find it difficult to believe that you didn't do calculus at school Ben. It was compulsory when I was at school. Maybe you called it differentiation and integration?

i finished my a-levels 5 years ago and i've never heard of calculus!

[monza gorilla]

It's almost 27 years since I left school. Things have obviously changed - we did calculus at O level.

[james]

Autumnpuma, on Mar 4 2007, 09:07 PM, said:

The only problem I would have with this is that you fail to mention the 'no child left behind' failure is more due to the State's failed implementation than the whole idea of it. Seriously, the federal government passed the standards and left the states to individually decide what to do. That has led to state-wide corruption of a good idea. The feds also dropped the ball by not regulating it on a national level.

As you've just come from High School, I'll bow to your greater knowledge in everything else you've stated.

I'm sure there is a lot about "no child left behind" that I don't know. I'm just saying that the way the schools are changing to comply with it are hurting the students. The students it is aimed see very little improvement as they are mostly unmotivated to learn, and thats fine. But it is hurting the medium to upper level students who can comprehend what is being taught in less than half the time that is taken to cover it because it is being taught at the lowest level. If the old addage that the chain is only as strong as its weakest link were applicable to this situation then this would be an acceptable thing. The fact is that the bottom level of students is not going to change dramatically. The majority of those children will stay mediocre through their whole lives and work for people who are in the upper level. "No chilld left behind" tries to put everyone one the same level which is totaly unrealistic and a dangerous way of thinking.

[Ferrariphile]

ykickamoocow, on Mar 4 2007, 12:05 AM, said:

I agree. On the otherhand i think Education standards are just as important as raw intelligence. That is where i think America is lacking as your education system (particularly history) as from what ive heard it is far too centred on American history and doesnt really do history on world events from other countries perspectives. For example i learnt about Australian history in years 9 and 10 but for years 11 and 12 i learnt about WW1 from the perspective of every major country which was involved and i also learnt about the history of Cuba and Russia.

I don't know if anybody has heard of or attended an International Baccalaureate World School, the curriculum is standardised worldwide by a Welsh consortium.  I have my IB Diploma, and the first two years of high school (grades 9 & 10) we took the normal county-standard World History classes (from "the beginning" to present). Grade 11 was U.S. History, and grade 12 was 20th Century World Topics.  Americans don't even know their own history, ask them who won the French and Indian War and you'll be hard pressed to get a correct answer.

[Autumnpuma]

Well we did 'cause all them damn injuns are all on reser...riser...rastervashuns. was no french innit jus us kickin some red a##.

[james]

Autumnpuma, on Mar 6 2007, 05:30 AM, said:

Well we did 'cause all them damn injuns are all on reser...riser...rastervashuns. was no french innit jus us kickin some red a##.

   Thats hilarious!!!

[ecapdeville]

jemstride, on Mar 5 2007, 02:25 PM, said:

i finished my a-levels 5 years ago and i've never heard of calculus!

Differential Calculus was the only reason for me to leave Cybernetics Engineering and start my career as a Graphic Designer, and all I have to say is that I´m GLAD I did it, calculus is a no no for me.  

[goferrarigo]

Ferrariphile, on Mar 5 2007, 10:18 PM, said:

I don't know if anybody has heard of or attended an International Baccalaureate World School, the curriculum is standardised worldwide by a Welsh consortium.  I have my IB Diploma, and the first two years of high school (grades 9 & 10) we took the normal county-standard World History classes (from "the beginning" to present). Grade 11 was U.S. History, and grade 12 was 20th Century World Topics.  Americans don't even know their own history, ask them who won the French and Indian War and you'll be hard pressed to get a correct answer.

IB was sooo hard, we have to advanced calculus in maths, which subjects did you take?

[Ferrariphile]

goferrarigo, on Mar 7 2007, 11:43 PM, said:

IB was sooo hard, we have to advanced calculus in maths, which subjects did you take?

I graduated almost five years ago, so I don't know if things have changed.  I tested out of SL Spanish a year early (to the surprise of my Spanish teachers).  I also took HL Biology, HL Physics, SL Music Theory, SL Mathematical Methods, HL English, and my electives were some sort of band class or other (symphonic/marching band).  The math was kinda hard, but it really helped me get my Bachelor's of Science in Chemical Engineering.  I've taken so many advanced math classes at University I don't even want to remember them.

Edited by Ferrariphile, 08 March 2007 - 05:24 PM.

[DarkLord]

whoa.... dont give me jitters...i thot some interesting discussion is going on about honda RA101 aka chameleon. but its stupid calculus....

Calculus dont stalk me      

[Ferrariphile]

DarkLord, on Mar 9 2007, 04:18 AM, said:

whoa.... dont give me jitters...i thot some interesting discussion is going on about honda RA101 aka chameleon. but its stupid calculus....

Calculus dont stalk me      

The ghost of Frobenius shall haunt you forever!

[goferrarigo]

Ferrariphile, on Mar 10 2007, 03:08 AM, said:

The ghost of Frobenius shall haunt you forever!

how abt the ghost of Fermat's he is bigger and better than ever