Submitted by Reader (not verified) on Fri, 01/20/2006 - 22:52.
I have one Kindergartener at North Cross - a private school in Roanoke. A second daughter enters JK at North Cross next year. North Cross is certainly on the ball with regard to their math and science curriculum.
With respect to those with highly elevated math expertise, I must admit I remain skeptical of claims that advanced math concepts including trigonometry, geometry, and calculus are vital tools that everyone must have in order to compete in our digital economy. Perhaps it is because I've met so many wonderful programmers and internet developers who, like myself, have a strong grasp of algebra but a very nebulous understanding of more advanced math concepts. I'm actually more concerned that our pubilic schools have become so focused on "teaching to the test" that students are not allowed to explore independently and learn adaptively.
I never graduated college. In fact, I never graduated the ninth grade. Yet while most kids my age were exiting college and only just beginning to wonder what their career path should be - in 1996 - I was an established director of new technologies at a new media firm. I had a great set of grade school teachers, many of whom taught to me the wonder of learning, the euphoria of a new understanding. I believe that cultivating this wonder and euphoria is far more important than drilling on a specific curriculum ad nauseum. Because once you have that thirst for knowledge, everything else pretty much takes care of itself. Sean Pecor
Hmm.
I have one Kindergartener at North Cross - a private school in Roanoke. A second daughter enters JK at North Cross next year. North Cross is certainly on the ball with regard to their math and science curriculum.
With respect to those with highly elevated math expertise, I must admit I remain skeptical of claims that advanced math concepts including trigonometry, geometry, and calculus are vital tools that everyone must have in order to compete in our digital economy. Perhaps it is because I've met so many wonderful programmers and internet developers who, like myself, have a strong grasp of algebra but a very nebulous understanding of more advanced math concepts. I'm actually more concerned that our pubilic schools have become so focused on "teaching to the test" that students are not allowed to explore independently and learn adaptively.
I never graduated college. In fact, I never graduated the ninth grade. Yet while most kids my age were exiting college and only just beginning to wonder what their career path should be - in 1996 - I was an established director of new technologies at a new media firm. I had a great set of grade school teachers, many of whom taught to me the wonder of learning, the euphoria of a new understanding. I believe that cultivating this wonder and euphoria is far more important than drilling on a specific curriculum ad nauseum. Because once you have that thirst for knowledge, everything else pretty much takes care of itself. Sean Pecor