Do you agree with the state's decision to require eighth-graders to pass an algebra exam?

Nearly half (48.8 percent) of respondents to an Argus-Courier online poll July 17, 2008 disagree with the state’s decision to require eighth-graders to pass an algebra exam.
More than three-fourths (76.7 percent) believe the new requirement will affect how math is taught in lower grades. Nearly two-thirds (65.1 percent) believe eighth-graders are capable of learning algebra.
Here are some of the comments from those who participated in the survey:
” “
“Standardized tests only reveal what we already know: the high academic achievers will succeed and the struggling students will fail. These tests don’t help students learn, trust me. I work in a school setting and have seen lots of students randomly color in Scantron answer cards.”
” “
“I wish politicians who know nothing about education would leave education to educators.”
” “
“Come on, folks. Algebra is not that hard. There is a stigma, perhaps, attached to the mere word ‘algebra’ which triggers the response that ‘It’s too hard.’ I’m not a math wizard, and math certainly was not my favorite subject, but I took ” and passed ” algebra in the seventh grade. If we keep setting low standards, we’ll end up as a nation of morons.”
” “
“Sixth-graders are capable. We need to stop dumbing down our children.”
” “
“The requirement is sure to increase the dropout rate.”
” “
“I don’t believe algebra should be required at all in California schools! I doubt that more than a few of the people I went to school with ever use algebra in their daily lives or at work. It is absurd to waste precious class time on algebra and more advanced math. Ensure all students are fluent in basic math and then use extra class time for physical education or pertinent electives.”
” “
“I never used algebra after high school.”
” “
“The educational establishment must raise the bar if America has any hope of competing with our up-and-coming competitors. The salad days must end.”
” “
“It’s about time.”
” “
“This is a ‘Duh!’ for me. Of course they should be required to pass algebra before high school!”
” “
“The reality is that unfortunately not all eighth-graders are capable of learning algebra.”
” “
“Once again we ignore vocational education, in a wrongsided attempt to address analytic intelligence over all other types of talent. We need skilled technical people, and algebra isn’t needed for many of those crafts.”
” “
“Not all eighth-graders are developmentally ready for algebra.”
” “
“It took me two years to get and finally pass algebra in the 10th grade. In college I took physics. Not all kids will stay to pass algebra or need it for their future. We need to identify kids’ strength and work off that so they succeed in their talent or are supported in their interest.”
” “
“I believe it is very possible for fifth-graders to do this. I also believe it is possible to stop dumbing down the education system … this is a step in the right direction.”
” “
“Not all minds handle math abstracts well, and a well-rounded education need not necessarily mandate passing one aspect of education when a student may do extremely well in other areas, thus contributing the best of themselves in what they can do and not being told they are a failure in what they can not. Teach it. Encourage it. Students need reading, writing, basic fundamentals of math. We need to look at what we want of the system. Do we encourage strengths? Do we feed strengths or do we spend our time trying to force those who don’t get something to fit in the box? We begin to see, yet again, that teachers will be asked to teach to the tests. Teachers will be forced to concentrate at the weakest math minds rather than the strongest. The talented will be unchallenged, angry, uninspired. The students talented in other areas will feel that they are idiots because their forte is not math. Algebra, as a subject and abstract math, should not hold anyone back from graduation. If it suits the direction the student is going, it will be a class they fit and pass. Should all students pass speech class? You can’t force people to be public speakers and you can’t force them to be abstract math minds. No. eighth-graders should not have to pass algebra. But yes, they should be proficient at a well-rounded basic education.”
” “
“I know that some countries teach algebra at an earlier age, but those countries also seem to focus on rote methods. Our culture values creativity. The expectations are pretty high now.”
” “
“Dude, I am an eighth-grade graduate and algebra is hard ” especially through the Saxton math program. It stinks. It did not prepare me at all for my high school math exam.”
” “
“I am 43 years old and I have only used algebra once in my life since leaving college.”
” “
“This feels like one more arbitrary requirement, pretending that education can be treated like a one size fits all solution. The horrible dropout rates we have produced in California by now should have convinced our school officials that we have much more pressing problems then just creating yet another test.”