Last night was Meet The Teacher Night for parents of students at our Middle School. DS is in the 7th grade Algebra class. This is the most advanced math group and replaces High School Algebra.
The teacher's primary message was that if the student finds the class stressful, more difficult than their other classes, needs a tutor, or spends more that 20 or 30 minutes on the daily homework, then perhaps she should not be in the class.
I know this teacher is trying to de-stress her students. However, any well-educated parent will know that taking High School Algebra in 7th grade is going to be more difficult and stressful for almost all of the students, that they will probably need support at times, and that it will not be harder than other classes only if you are a genius.
The parents of less educated parents are significantly more likely to hear this message and think that at the first sign of difficulty, they can conclude, usually incorrectly, that their child probably does not have the ability and should move down. They do not know that math students primarily succeed through hard work and not by ability (this is well researched).
Then, by the end of High School, there will be more discussion about why the highest math classes, and consequently admissions to the most selective colleges, are primarily comprised of middle and upper income students.
Tell your kids that math is harder for everyone, and they will have to work at it to be successful.
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