This piece somehow never got into the NY Times as a comment to one of many articles about algebra in the eighth grade. For anyone who has missed this battle, the state school board in California at one time issued a prohibition on algebra in the eighth grade as an anti-racism measure. More generally, the over-representation of black kids in remedial math classes and white kids in college-prep math classes has been taken in some circles as prima facie evidence of racism, to be rooted out by all means.

Algebra in the eighth grade has become a key issue for both sides. The battle is not just over whether kids should be able to take a subject when they’re ready for it. Some selective colleges have upped the ante by requiring calculus as prerequisite for all applicants, something hard to schedule if kids can’t take algebra in the eighth grade. Here’s the piece.

This article misses the point. The real problem is that by the eighth grade children differ drastically in math preparation. There are lots of reasons for that—and it’s certainly not just a question of ability. However it is a fact, and it affects whether they are ready to take algebra in the eighth grade. Making up for that difference is not a little something to be done on the side. Focusing on the eight grade trivializes the problem. 

Having different classes for students with different backgrounds is not a bad idea. Taking a class where you can’t understand what is going on will make you hate math forever. However one should never mistake lack of background for lack of ability. Kids should not be tracked; courses should have prerequisites. This isn’t easy, but I’ve worked in schools where that is done. 

That may not get every kid ready for algebra in the eighth grade, but that was never really the problem to begin with. As you would never guess from the article, the vast majority of colleges teach basic calculus to lots of students as part of the curriculum. The admission process to selective colleges is badly screwed up, so some of them require early calculus in the same way they want kids to have cured cancer—it’s just nuts. But that isn’t the main problem to be solved. The main problem is teaching kids math, and most of that problem is earlier than the eighth grade.