We don't need no stinking Math (or Science)!

So apparently all this big push for more math and science has not gone over all the huge with parents, who do not seem to see the need for it.

If anything, parents are less worried about math and science these days -- not more.

In 1994, 52 percent of parents considered a lack of math and science in their local schools to be a serious problem. Now, only 32 percent say the same thing. During that time, states ramped up standards and testing, which seems to have affected parents' views.

This goes along with the recent Washington Post piece by Richard Cohen arguing that perhaps we need to reconsider the graduation requirements for all high school students. He presents us with the case of Gabriela, who struggled and failed at Algebra six times, and thus was not allowed to graduate.

Here's the thing, Gabriela: You will never need to know algebra. I have never once used it and never once even rued that I could not use it. You will never need to know—never mind want to know—how many boys it will take to mow a lawn if one of them quits halfway and two more show up later—or something like that. Most of math can now be done by a computer or a calculator. On the other hand, no computer can write a column or even a thank-you note—or reason even a little bit. If, say, the school asked you for another year of English or, God forbid, history, so that you actually had to know something about your world, I would be on its side. But algebra? Please.

Now, as a teacher, of course I expect all of my students to do well in every class, but...well, I can kind of sympathize. I passed my high school's standardized math exam with the minimum possible passing score. Basically, I find much more than simple Alegbra more than a little difficult, and I'm not sure that expecting all students to study Alegbra in order to graduate actually makes sense, at least if they are not going on to college. Some might argue that Algebra teaches reasoning skills, but c'mon, can anyone really argue that without Algebra, students wouldn't learn critical thinking and reasoning skills? I don't think so. I could do and do quite well without advanced math. Now, keep in mind, I'm refering to such things as Calc and Trig, not 3x+1=7, or even Logic, which is an important aspect of that math area that can be useful in many ways. But the more advanced stuff? That is what calculators and computers are for, after all!

My Darling Clement

So Matt Clement wants to remain in Boston, but if he is traded, hopes that "it happen sooner than later." The knock on Clement has always been that he is a first half pitcher, and that knock certainly held true last year, when he dominated in the first half of the year and collapsed in the second half (see the Globe article for the specific numbers), and his performance in the ALDS against Chicago was one for the Ages...the Stone Ages.
All that being said, he did still win in double digits for the Sox, and 10 wins in the first half is 10 less wins we have to worry about in the second half, ya know? If I had to choose, I think I'd take Clement over Wells, if only because Clement has not stated a desire to leave the greatest city on Earth. :)

"A Gulf State? I Thought It Meant, like, Florida or something!"

Kevin Drum has some excellent commentary on the incredible stupidity of this Administration foolishly thinking that allowing the UAE to run six huge US Ports would be okayed by Congress or the public with no complaints.

An excerpt:

What it shows is that Bush still doesn't understand how much influence he's recently lost with his conservative base. In the brave new post-Harriet, post-Katrina world, outrage over the port deal has been driven not by liberal critics, but by conservatives like Michelle Malkin and even administration uber-stalwart Hugh Hewitt, who are no longer willing to simply take Bush's word for it that they should trust him on this issue. For today's chastened conservatives, it's "trust but verify" when it comes to the Bush administration.

Pretty well said. This administration has become remarkably tin-eared and, well, stupid, when considering policy and action. A shame, especially when it comes to National Security.

How Scary is Dick Cheney?

So scary that when he shoots someone, the victim apologizes to HIM! Josh Marshall preserves the headline for all eternity here.

The words of Marshall, who is not at all impressed by Cheney's strong and measured reaction to the shooting 'nonsense':

Even if Dick Cheney is blameless in this matter in any deep moral sense, let's not forget that his immediate reaction was to send out his surrogates to publicly blame what happened on the victim.

Actually, that may afford him too much credit since it wasn't actually his 'immediate' reaction. It was his considered reaction after the 24 hour cooling off period he gave himself between the shooting and when he chose to make it public.

By my count, he continued to have his public surrogates blame Whittington for fully three days. He only relented and took responsibility himself when the public and no doubt private political clamor became too much to sustain.

That's Dick Cheney.

Hell of a way to characterize a VP, don't you think? The truth hurts!