- #1
brainy kevin
- 24
- 0
While on the surface, this appears to be a no brainer, (Of course it should, if the students are ready) I actually seriously question the practice of letting high schoolers, usually seniors, take calculus. You see, the college calculus fail rate is about 50%, which is not good at all. It is a complex problem, but it has a great deal to do with the fact that incoming college students have minimal mathematical maturity, and have only a tenuous grasp of trig and advanced algebra. Most high school textbooks teach by working out a few problems, and having a grossly oversimplified explanation. Classics like Jacobs, Sullivan, and the like are rarely used. Why not, then, take a slower pace with some of the great textbooks throughout high school, have an exhaustive understanding of the subjects, develop mathematical maturity and thereby adequately prepare students for truly rigorous calculus in college. (Like Apostol's Spivak's or similar calculus texts?)
Anyone have any arguments for or against teaching calculus in high school?
Anyone have any arguments for or against teaching calculus in high school?