Fractions Key to Math/ Success

More bad news on the math front--Americans perform poorly. NY Times:

Fractions are especially troublesome for Americans, the report found. It pointed to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, standardized exams known as the nation’s report card, which found that almost half the eighth graders tested could not solve a word problem that required dividing fractions. Panel members said the failure to master fractions was for American students the greatest obstacle to learning algebra. Just as “plastics” was the catchword in the 1967 movie “The Graduate,” the catchword for math teachers today should be “fractions,” said Francis Fennell, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

And mastering Algebra II is key for college success. US 15 yr. olds rank 25th among 30 developed nations in math literacy and problem solving. See Patterns in Fractions.

UPDATE: Tom Mannis, The Bench on the failings of the teachers union, and the community that makes excuses and allies with the ACLU to prevent learning.

Related posts: "Kristen": NEA's Worst Enemy, Internet Savvy Schools, Those Pernicious Ed Schools, Education Revolution, The Education Solution