The Florida legislature is trying to toughen high school graduation requirements. Among the proposed changes are to require:
Starting with the freshman class of 2014:
Take algebra I and geometry for two of the four required math courses.
Take biology I as one of three required courses.Starting with the freshman class of 2016:
Take algebra I, geometry and algebra II for three of the four required math courses.
Take biology I and chemistry for two of the three required courses.
Wow, I didn’t know how far behind the public schools were. We had algebra one, geometry and biology 1 in Jr High School – (when I went to school in Miami). In tenth grade we had algebra 2 , biology 2 and chemistry. No wonder we are graduating such poorly trained students ! Looks like reverse evolution of education.
I thought all of that was already required?
Like you all REALLY want to know, but these are the courses I took in middle and high school (I graduated 2002):
8th: Algebra I, IPS (intro to physical science)
9th: Geometry, Biology
10th: Algebra II, Chemistry
Then electives:
11th: Analysis of Functions (pre-calc), Physics and AP Bio
12th: AP Calculus, AP Statistics and Anatomy & Physiology
I was fortunate that I attended good public schools that offered a lot of electives and AP classes. Unfortunately it seems this is the exception, not the rule.
Whoa, folks! You two were obviously in the upper part of your classes. Rep. Hasner’s bill is really focused on the bottom third of our students and the argument that ALL high school graduates should be scientifically and mathematically literate. Our students aren’t necessarily getting worse. The big problem is that in our increasingly technological and global society we can’t afford to write off a third of our students like we did 30 years ago.