May 4
Why does the Texas Senate hate high school students? I mean, aside from the obvious reasons (hormonally-fueled adolescents who spend their weekends sleeping with their teachers and dancing around in their underwear to Bob Seger)? Spearheaded by Sen. Florence Shapiro, the Senate is considering a proposal that would include four years of math and science in the school curriculum instead of three. HB 1, which is being discussed by the Finance Committee today, would give high schools $500 more per student under this new requirement. That should buy them a couple beakers.
Ashley Flowers, a junior at McCallum High School, expressed her opposition to the proposal in between smoking in the boys’ room and getting felt up by her boyfriend. “Your senior year, you shouldn’t really have seven classes a day… you should concentrate on where you should go to college, stuff like that.” Well, Ashley, it sounds like you’re on the fast track to the Vogue College of Cosmetology.
The high school principal at San Marcos, Chad Kelly, however, says he’s all for it. “I believe our students need to be challenged with upper-level science and math to prepare them for college or other life opportunities after high school.”
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My God, what is wrong with Shapiro? The next thing you know she’ll be wanting kids to read at an 8th grade level.
I’m all for it. Without advanced math, how are these kids going to know if they’re getting stiffed on an 8th? In the same vein, gram, dime, and ounce conversions are very important.
Did anyone see this week’s Newsweek? About top 100 public schools in the nation….Texas was all over that thing. I’m afraid now, the legislators are going to take that for all it’s worth and say, “wait - why are we in special right now?!…We just scored big on our education system. Screw more financing!”
Four years of math and sciece sounds good to me. As long as we don’t have to provide current textbooks…
Re: 4. Lopaka
or teachers, because $500 a kid won’t cover that mandate.
Four years of math is a very strong predictor of success in higher education. This is a Good Thing.
If they actually listen to highschool students on what should be taught, they’ll all end up taking classes in “how to toke” and “undoing a bra with one hand”.
Girls should take 4 years of typing and home economics.
Four years of math and science is a great idea, but it just eats up that many more elective credits. Students should have some chance to explore their interests (toking, bra undoing…) so they can decide what they might want to be when they grow up.
#8 - and boys should take four years of shop and ag. Then we wouldn’t have to hire illegals to powerwash our houses.
One of my 1988 high school football practices.
Coach: Why can’t you remember your plays? Do you take Ag three periods a day or something?
Player: No, coach. Just two.
A girl should take only 3 years of typing and home economics.
The 4th year should be devoted to her newborn.
The baby deserves the attention, because the momma IS NOT MARRIED.
In New York - public schools (at least when I was in h.s. there) required 2 years of math and 4 years of physical education. I can’t do my taxes or figure out a tip on a restaurant bill, but I’ll smoke your ass in Badminton!
“I vote and I smoke ass”
There’s a new one for the collection.
Thinking makes my head hurt.
Re: 14. FledTheAsylum
Do you still smoke poll?
Re: 8. JohnCornyn’sBoxTurtle
Well, the MBA isn’t coming in all that handy these days, now that I’m stuck in Kansas with a bun in the oven, a 2-year-old, and no child care.
How I scoffed at home economics in junior high…only the stupid people took it, I was busy taking French 3 (and teaching “undoing a bra with one hand” adjunct at the local JC).
Oh, to sew a fine seam or bake a cherry pie…
Is there remedial Home Ec for 35-year olds who never thought they’d find themselves in this sort of situation?
Well, I had 4 years of Math, 4 years of science (5 classes), AND 4 years of Ag. in high school. Now I’m qualified to troll on blogs but I never could weld worth a damn.
If high school math started with multiplication tables and ended with Geometry then four years would be a great idea.
Seriously, I don’t like all these mandates. High schoolers should be able to reap the rewards of working hard for 3 1/2 years. Spring semester of senior year is for sports, being a coach’s aide first period, being a teacher’s aide second period, taking two lunches (one for eating, one for getting some beer), and then maybe rendering a really good likeness of the “Iron Maiden” logo on your folder during the class before practice.
RE: #1 A Fine Whine.
Next thing you know she’ll require Presidents to read on an 8th grade level.
Re: 17. boredhousewife
Have you thought about buying a 12 year old Mexican girl to help out around the house?
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Ask Smooch what she learned from her gymnastics coach.
Re: 20. treehugger
Nah, just so long as he can smirk and make jokes at a frat level most voters will be pleased.
Re: 22. Pink Lady
We’re going to need more information there. I speak for everyone.
Re: 21. JohnCornyn’sBoxTurtle
They’re not as easy to find here in Kansas as they are in Texas. Can one of you guys send me one?
ROADTRIP!
Re: 11. JohnCornyn’sBoxTurtle
Are you Randy Floyd?
Ok–no jokes here–sorry;
My prediction: they pass the requirements which will drive up the demand for math and science teachers, esp in hard-to-staff schools (HTSS). Because every school will need more teachers in these areas, more jobs will open up at the more desirable schools. The best teachers from the HTSS will migrate to the desirable schools, thus exacerbating the shortage of well-qualified teachers in HTSS.
In the meantime, there is no concomitant increase in the production of such teachers and attrition will remain constant (read high), thus the HTSS will have even lower teacher quality and more schools will not meet AYP because of math and science.
The shortage and redistribution of teachers happened when the lege increased the foireign language requirements.
Doesn’t anyone at the Capitol think of these things?
RE: 27
Please don’t confuse “the Capitol” with ITPT, which concentrates on teacher-student sex, basement rollerskating, why unmarried women are losers, dumb political statements/photos, home power-washing, nauseated European sex and many other issues that REAL people care about.
Re: 28. NOITALL
Those aren’t issues in the Capitol? Politician-assistant sex, basement rollerskating, why anyone that’s not a politician is a loser, dumb political statements/photos, definitely home powerwashing, and nauseated any kind of sex + banning others from sex/dildoes?
If I’m not mistaken, these are problems that the Capitol helps create…, specially DC
Re: 22. Pink Lady
I’ll never forget the image of Bela Karolyi carrying an injured Smooch in his arms at the ‘96 Summer Olympics.
Ok, I’m on board…JCBT, you are funny as hell. No sex though, I’m saving myself for Lurkette and DMWP. I’m old fashioned.
Re #27. UT_guy
Of course they’re thinking…ahead….its a depth charge designed to subvert education and create demand for …… …… …..vouchers.
*shifty eyes*
Re: 27. UT_guy
The legislators probably would consider issues like that … if only they could understand what “concomitant” means.
/I’m pretty sure Flo is OK with coaches teaching math.
As Barbie once said, “Math is hard.”
Re: 31. The Other Guy
Awww, shucks. But really, propositions like that should only be made discreetly. You know, like in front of everyone at an ITPT party.
http://capitolannex.com/2006/05/04/from-the-blogs-thursday-may-1-2006/
[…] In the Pink Texas talks about Sen. Florence Shapiro’s proposal that high school students be required to take four years of math and science to graduate instead of three. […]
Re: 26. The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton
Thats what I like about highschool girls. I get older, but they stay the saaaaaaame age.
You guys got 4 years of math and science? It’d be a lot cooler if you did man.
“Me and my loser friends, we gotta go get Aerosmith tickets . . . top priority of the summer.”
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Re: 28. NOITALL
You forgot, a string of worthless ‘When Harry Met Sally’ spoofs.
You were going to be a gymnast.
A journalist.
Right, that’s what I said.
gymnastics and teacher/student scandals…. ahhh, high school.
Re: 33. Dont Mess w/ Pink
They don’t know what “fiscal” means. Swinford thinks it’s from an Olivia Newton John song.
And home ecomomics is just fancy talk for cookin’ and cleanin’. Don’t get all uppidy.
Re: 16. BlackIsTheNewPink
I think I’ve been misunderstood.
Re: 34. prettylady
I really thought that was Malibu Stacy… Then I googled.
That’s pretty messed up, right there!
http://www.rightoftexas.blogspot.com
Do we want our students more educated and able to compete in the global economy?
…yes….
What’s the problem here?
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Re: 45. Right of Texas
I don’t want astronauts, I want powerwashers.
http://www.lufkindailymuse.com
This is a great proposal. As a scientist, I see so much opportunity in the sciences for young Americans (especially women), yet there are so few. Science and math can be fun! Sure, they’re not for everyone, but having a strong high school background in both will not hurt anyone.