Lolz. Morons.

Buck Turgidson said:

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I read about UCSD having to offer remedial math for these fake 4.0 kids.

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I can't begin to imagine how miserable it must be for a prof to realize they have to teach someone that has been promoted into their class that didn't earn the opportunity to learn the subject matter. They are being asked to accomplish an impossible task.

Ag87H2O said:

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For supposedly smart people, Ivory tower elites can be some of the dumbest people on the planet.

What did they expect? When you lower (or eliminate) the standard, you going to get lower performance.

When virtue signalling and political correctness meet reality, reality wins every time.

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brainwashing and ideological possession do not lead to well thought out decisions or good results

Maybe they'll start teaching calculus in high school again too.

More liberal ******ation being rolled back...

Quote:

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BREAKING: Harvard faculty just voted to CAP A GRADES at just 20% per class starting Fall of 2027.

After A's EXPLODED past 60% of all grades last year, up from 25% two decades ago, the Ivy League is finally imposing limits.

Let's hope the participation trophy era of grade inflation is fading into obscurity. Good riddance.

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BREAKING: Harvard faculty just voted to CAP A GRADES at just 20% per class starting Fall of 2027.

After A's EXPLODED past 60% of all grades last year, up from 25% two decades ago, the Ivy League is finally imposing limits.

Let’s hope the participation trophy era of grade… pic.twitter.com/YlbKpVSqwz

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) May 23, 2026

torrid said:

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Maybe they'll start teaching calculus in high school again too.

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Neither of my daughters took calculus in college because they got college credit for the calculus class they took in high school.

I remember the BC test in high school included calculating the surface area of curved surfaces, which was not easy.

BusterAg said:

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torrid said:

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Maybe they'll start teaching calculus in high school again too.

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Neither of my daughters took calculus in college because they got college credit for the calculus class they took in high school.

I remember the BC test in high school included calculating the surface area of curved surfaces, which was not easy.

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Were they in STEM programs? I didn't get college credit for my high school calculus class, but that knowledge allowed me to place-out of first semester calculus (and very closely the second). And as an engineering major, I had several tough math classes which followed.

The reason I ask is I think there is some validity in the arguments against teaching calculus in high school. It is heavily pushed for honors students and used to pad college applications. And many of these students go on to study non-STEM programs. I agree that these students probably don't need calculus, and they might be better off taking another class like statistics.

I'm much more concerned about calculus in high school in regard to STEM majors and careers. What about the B-student studying engineering at a second-tier state university? He may not place out, but taking calculus in high school definitely gives him a leg up. It might make the difference in him surviving his freshman year.

Else some academic advisor will tell him "engineering is not for you" and suggest he switch to a business major.

edit - I am a major advocate of teach advanced math in high school. I just think the focus is on the wrong students at times.

I never had calculus in high school nor at A&M. This was 35 years ago. It hasn't been required across the board for a long time.

YouBet said:

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I never had calculus in high school nor at A&M. This was 35 years ago. It hasn't been required across the board for a long time.

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Same for HS for me, but a bit further back. I took my first calculus class at A&M, ENG Math 101.

I remember the asst dean during freshman orientation session writing classes we would take on the dry erase board. He wrote ENG Math 101 and turned with no expression, looked at the room and said "50% of you will fail this class". He then turned back and continued writing.

The subject matter in high school is more difficult now, but the grading system is easier. Hard to cut through the noise. I think STEM-ready kids are much more prepared than many of us were 20-40 years ago entering college from an academic perspective. I do think a lot of kids have weaker practical knowledge (i.e. not generally as mechanically-inclined).

The subject matter is definitely not more difficult now; it's been significantly dumbed down.

I taught every math and science class my district offered from 7th through 12th grade. The material was so much easier than what I did in high school 35 years ago.

It may be presented in a more "complex manner" - but math students today cannot do most math problems without a calculator. I could do the problems both with and without a calculator when I was in high school.

Most higher level math students today can't even work with fractions, unless they have a calculator. The level of math literacy today is much much lower than what it was 20 to 30 years ago.

The reason the level of math literacy is so much lower is because of inclusion in the classroom. Instead of separating learners by ability, you teach to the lowest common denominator.

I taught math for 10 years, and now work in the math dept of a university, so have seen first hand.

YouBet said:

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I never had calculus in high school nor at A&M. This was 35 years ago. It hasn't been required across the board for a long time.

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If you were on the honors path at my HS, calculus was your senior math class...I don't think there was another choice.

And it was 3 semesters of calculus at A&M. But, I'm an AERO, so duh, I had to take it.

torrid said:

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BusterAg said:

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torrid said:

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Maybe they'll start teaching calculus in high school again too.

---

Neither of my daughters took calculus in college because they got college credit for the calculus class they took in high school.

I remember the BC test in high school included calculating the surface area of curved surfaces, which was not easy.

---

Were they in STEM programs? I didn't get college credit for my high school calculus class, but that knowledge allowed me to place-out of first semester calculus (and very closely the second). And as an engineering major, I had several tough math classes which followed.

The reason I ask is I think there is some validity in the arguments against teaching calculus in high school. It is heavily pushed for honors students and used to pad college applications. And many of these students go on to study non-STEM programs. I agree that these students probably don't need calculus, and they might be better off taking another class like statistics.

I'm much more concerned about calculus in high school in regard to STEM majors and careers. What about the B-student studying engineering at a second-tier state university? He may not place out, but taking calculus in high school definitely gives him a leg up. It might make the difference in him surviving his freshman year.

Else some academic advisor will tell him "engineering is not for you" and suggest he switch to a business major.

edit - I am a major advocate of teach advanced math in high school. I just think the focus is on the wrong students at times.

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Texas offers Advanced Placement calculus AB and BC. You can get a 1 to 5 on the AP test. Depending on how high of a test score you get, colleges can accept that test results as college credit.

Quote:

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Texas A&M University accepts AP Calculus scores for transfer credit, with the specific courses awarded based on the exam taken and the score achieved. Generally, a score of 3 or higher is required to earn credit, though specific major requirements may vary.

• Calculus AB: A score of 3 typically grants credit for MATH 151 (Calculus I).
• Calculus BC: A score of 3 grants credit for MATH 151; a score of 4 or 5 grants credit for MATH 151 and MATH 152 (Calculus I and II); a score of 5 may also grant credit for MATH 251 (Calculus III) depending on the specific policy year and major.

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Both daughters got 4s on AB and BC. One daughter got a 5 on BC, but she didn't need Cal III for a BIMS major, so I don't think she sought credit for it.

zooguy96 said:

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The subject matter is definitely not more difficult now; it's been significantly dumbed down.

I taught every math and science class my district offered from 7th through 12th grade. The material was so much easier than what I did in high school 35 years ago.

It may be presented in a more "complex manner" - but math students today cannot do most math problems without a calculator. I could do the problems both with and without a calculator when I was in high school.

Most higher level math students today can't even work with fractions, unless they have a calculator. The level of math literacy today is much much lower than what it was 20 to 30 years ago.

The reason the level of math literacy is so much lower is because of inclusion in the classroom. Instead of separating learners by ability, you teach to the lowest common denominator.

I taught math for 10 years, and now work in the math dept of a university, so have seen first hand.

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You were doing Taylor Polynomials and Diffy Q in high school 35 years ago?

Because those are subjects in the Texas AP tests.

There was no option for college math credit based on high school classes back in my day. I just took a bunch of math placement tests during summer orientation. I received several hours of math credit, though only Calc I counted towards my degree.

I also placed out of English 103, though it was based on some standardized test other than the SAT. I never took an English class in college, not even technical writing. I imagine I would have benefited from taking some English classes though.

The community college systems were created, in part, to assist students who are lagging in subjects like math to reach the entrance requirements for a prestigious university.

Why must the UC system reduce its standards when we already have pathways available for students to elevate themselves to meet the UC system's criteria?

This action would not be considered racist; rather, it would be a practical solution.

Rocky Rider said:

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Buck Turgidson said:

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I read about UCSD having to offer remedial math for these fake 4.0 kids.

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I can't begin to imagine how miserable it must be for a prof to realize they have to teach someone that has been promoted into their class that didn't earn the opportunity to learn the subject matter. They are being asked to accomplish an impossible task.

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It is the lot of every single public school teacher now.

Kind of kills their argument that DEI is really about giving opportunity to oppressed brilliant minorities who just aren't given a chance by evil racist YT and not just lowering standards to meet arbitrary race based quotas

doubledog said:

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The community college systems were created, in part, to assist students who are lagging in subjects like math to reach the entrance requirements for a prestigious university.

Why must the UC system reduce its standards when we already have pathways available for students to elevate themselves to meet the UC system's criteria?

This action would not be considered racist; rather, it would be a practical solution.

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I read that article, but it was a month or two ago. As I recall, these students were the equivalent of our Top 10-percent students, and many of them had 4.0+ GPAs with higher-level classes on their transcripts. It wasn't until after they were admitted that the deficits in math were discovered.

BBRex said:

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doubledog said:

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The community college systems were created, in part, to assist students who are lagging in subjects like math to reach the entrance requirements for a prestigious university.

Why must the UC system reduce its standards when we already have pathways available for students to elevate themselves to meet the UC system's criteria?

This action would not be considered racist; rather, it would be a practical solution.

---

I read that article, but it was a month or two ago. As I recall, these students were the equivalent of our Top 10-percent students, and many of them had 4.0+ GPAs with higher-level classes on their transcripts. It wasn't until after they were admitted that the deficits in math were discovered.

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That is why we should give entrance exams that stress mathematics (STAT tests). Those who score poorly could take courses at their local community college.

BBRex said:

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doubledog said:

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The community college systems were created, in part, to assist students who are lagging in subjects like math to reach the entrance requirements for a prestigious university.

Why must the UC system reduce its standards when we already have pathways available for students to elevate themselves to meet the UC system's criteria?

This action would not be considered racist; rather, it would be a practical solution.

---

I read that article, but it was a month or two ago. As I recall, these students were the equivalent of our Top 10-percent students, and many of them had 4.0+ GPAs with higher-level classes on their transcripts. It wasn't until after they were admitted that the deficits in math were discovered.

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Truly discovered....having been purposely and deliberately covered.

BBRex said:

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doubledog said:

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The community college systems were created, in part, to assist students who are lagging in subjects like math to reach the entrance requirements for a prestigious university.

Why must the UC system reduce its standards when we already have pathways available for students to elevate themselves to meet the UC system's criteria?

This action would not be considered racist; rather, it would be a practical solution.

---

I read that article, but it was a month or two ago. As I recall, these students were the equivalent of our Top 10-percent students, and many of them had 4.0+ GPAs with higher-level classes on their transcripts. It wasn't until after they were admitted that the deficits in math were discovered.

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I was roommates my first semester with a top 10% kid from a garbage high school. He didn't even make it to his second semester. Was taking really basic classes and I think only got a passing grade in "how to succeed in college" and PE.

ThunderCougarFalconBird said:

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BBRex said:

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doubledog said:

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The community college systems were created, in part, to assist students who are lagging in subjects like math to reach the entrance requirements for a prestigious university.

Why must the UC system reduce its standards when we already have pathways available for students to elevate themselves to meet the UC system's criteria?

This action would not be considered racist; rather, it would be a practical solution.

---

I read that article, but it was a month or two ago. As I recall, these students were the equivalent of our Top 10-percent students, and many of them had 4.0+ GPAs with higher-level classes on their transcripts. It wasn't until after they were admitted that the deficits in math were discovered.

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I was roommates my first semester with a top 10% kid from a garbage high school. He didn't even make it to his second semester. Was taking really basic classes and I think only got a passing grade in "how to succeed in college" and PE.

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This was supposed to be between us, dude.

Quote:

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It is the lot of every single public school teacher now.

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Ultimately, it is the public school teachers who have fueled the rampant grade inflation that has warped college admissions beyond recognition. I know they get a lot of pressure from parents and administrators.

A&M is unfortunately on the wrong end of it due to state policy. The kids get set up for failure longer term by the system letting them fake capabilities.

Windy City Ag said:

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Quote:

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It is the lot of every single public school teacher now.

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Ultimately, it is the public school teachers who have fueled the rampant grade inflation that has warped college admissions beyond recognition. I know they get a lot of pressure from parents and administrators.

A&M is unfortunately on the wrong end of it due to state policy. The kids get set up for failure longer term by the system letting them fake capabilities.

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I disagree. It is more to do with public school admins combined with teachers unions and the pols they back.

BusterAg said:

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zooguy96 said:

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The subject matter is definitely not more difficult now; it's been significantly dumbed down.

I taught every math and science class my district offered from 7th through 12th grade. The material was so much easier than what I did in high school 35 years ago.

It may be presented in a more "complex manner" - but math students today cannot do most math problems without a calculator. I could do the problems both with and without a calculator when I was in high school.

Most higher level math students today can't even work with fractions, unless they have a calculator. The level of math literacy today is much much lower than what it was 20 to 30 years ago.

The reason the level of math literacy is so much lower is because of inclusion in the classroom. Instead of separating learners by ability, you teach to the lowest common denominator.

I taught math for 10 years, and now work in the math dept of a university, so have seen first hand.

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You were doing Taylor Polynomials and Diffy Q in high school 35 years ago?

Because those are subjects in the Texas AP tests.

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30 years ago? Yes.

Dealing with California is like the smartass comment one of my coworkers used to make when someone said something stupid.

"Adults are speaking. Go stand over there."