<p>beachlover15,</p>
<p>Where did I say that ALL US kids own smartphones? However, there are significantly more smartphones owned by American teenagers, than Chinese. If you would compare “poor” teenagers, the difference will be even bigger.</p>
<p>My point is that poor American kids are not so poor by international standards.</p>
<p>Dreadpirit,</p>
<p>In California there are 560 Elementary districts, 87 High School districts, 330 Unified districts. You located one school district that seems to have decent science program (also, they offer International Baccalaureate Program, lucky kids). </p>
<p>Majority of districts in California doesn’t have this sweet option.</p>
<p>Actually Californiaa, cell phone ownership isn’t that different between the US and Shanghai. Fewer than one percent of the 15-year-olds have no cellphone in their family (0.82% for Shanghai, and 0.51% for US) while well over 80% in both places have 3 or more cellphones. Now, when China includes their entire population, the percentages may change but the City of Shanghai compares well against the US. </p>
<p>That said, people are poorer in Shanghai. About 9% of the student test-takers live in places without a bathroom while only 0.37% of US students live in dwellings without a bathroom. Overall, about 6% of all OCED students live in a dwelling unit without a bathroom.</p>
<p>I suggest you go to the website, [Database</a> - PISA 2012](<a href=“http://pisa2012.acer.edu.au/interactive.php]Database”>http://pisa2012.acer.edu.au/interactive.php), and play around with the data if you are interested.</p>
<p>From my limited experience in China, the Chinese have more sophisticated cellphones than we do in the US.</p>
<p>@californiaa</p>
<p>You were the one who said “In California, kids may get Physics, Chemistry, or Biology in 11th grade, the earliest!” You didn’t say most or even some. I’m sure if it were important enough I could find many more districts that are the same.</p>
<p>This board is a useful source of information and debate for many people. It is very helpful when people across the country(world) share information about how things work in their neck of the woods. It is much less helpful when they take their limited experiences and project them on a much larger sample that appropriate.</p>
<p>Perhaps you should have said “in our district” instead of “in California”</p>
<p>The next CA school I looked at (Anaheim HS) Freshmen take Biology, Sophomores take Biology or Chemistry. Both grades can take Honors or AP where appropriate.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.auhsd.us/download.cfm?id=7452[/url]”>http://www.auhsd.us/download.cfm?id=7452</a></p>
<p>Dreadpirit ,</p>
<p>Please don’t be picky about several words. I am writing an opinion of the forum, not a legal document. </p>
<p>In most school districts in California, kids can’t take Physics in the 9th grade. Even in your example, Anaheim kids are not eligible for Physics until 11th grade.</p>
<p>My point is - curriculum in science and math could be stronger for kids that would like to accelerate in these fields.</p>
<p>The reason most kids cannot take high school physics in 9th grade is that high school physics requires at a minimum, concurrent enrollment in algebra2, and it’s really best to have completed algebra2. Since many school systems don’t offer geometry to 8th graders, their 9th graders aren’t even minimally prepared to take physics. But I don’t see what the hurry is to take physics. I think it will be better understood the more math the kids have, and the usual sequence of earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, is the best approach. </p>
<p>Also, accelerating the math instruction isn’t really feasible. Our middle school does offer geometry (and algebra1 in 7th grade), to “honor” students. It’s great for the students who can handle it, but quite a few of the students in this track later struggle in high school. The real problem is that by the end of elementary school, there is a huge spread of algebra-readiness, by about 4 years in a reasonably good public school. The schools aren’t well-equipped to deal with these disparities. They don’t have enough really advanced kids to offer them their own class. Acceleration to a higher grade presents its own problems. Those kids often end up bored and not learning nearly what they could be (and they are the ones who are most likely to need those math skills later on in life). Meanwhile, you have unhappy parents whose kids weren’t selected for the highest grouping pushing to get their kids in. Consequently, you have “honors” students who could barely get a B or C even when coddled with generous middle school “extra credit” and “exam retake” opportunities arriving in high school and floundering.</p>
<p>mathyone ,</p>
<p>Unfortunately, such curriculum doesn’t give time to learn science. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science … all are scheduled for the last 2 years of HS.</p>
<p>“Why can’t they make different tracks for kids? Math, science, humanities, arts, athletics, trade … specialize HS, make more magnet schools, it would be easy for everyone. Instead, they design Common Core …”</p>
<p>You really seem to be having a hard time understanding what CC is and what it isn’t. CC doesn’t prevent separate tracks, doesn’t prevent magnet schools and it doesn’t prohibit kids with interest taking advanced courses. You have a problem with the way your district has implemented the CC, not the CC itself.</p>
<p>Here in NY we are further ahead in implementation of CC, we have algebra in 8th or 9th. In our district Earth Science is required in 9th (most better districts are not that way). After that Bio/Chem and Physics can be taken in any order. As a matter of fact, Jr year my son took AP Bio, honors Chem and AP Physics (yes we had to fight a bit to get them to allow the third science, but it was mostly a scheduling issue).</p>
<p>“You have a problem with the way your district has implemented the CC, not the CC itself.”</p>
<p>Communism is a great idea, in principle. Implementation never worked 
(sorry to bring this analogy).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Interesting that they changed the order of science courses a bit. Back when I attended NYC public schools, Earth Science was taken in 7th and/or 8th grade followed by Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and a 4th year of science electives or additional science APs if desired…usually in that order from freshman to senior year.</p>
<p>Granted, so many HS classmates took AP sciences or took the AP exams without the courses from 9th grade on that by 12th grade, they’re usually taking science electives ranging from Meteorology to Pharmacology to complete the 4 year HS science requirement.</p>
<p>Our school system did away with Earth Science for the advanced kids. They take bio in the 8th grade. They then take chem in 9th and physics in 10th leaving room for 2 science APs and more if they double up. They can take AP Comp Sci when they like as an elective. Some non science kids take Earth Science instead of physics for their Regents physical science requirement. And the fact is that if you look at our course catalog, it looks like physics isn’t a freshman course, but my son who was double advanced in math took it then. He took Chem via CTY in the summer so he could do 3 science APs easily. At any rate looking at a catalog on line won’t always tell you what really goes on in the schools. Some may have more flexibility than others. Our middle school was awful - you had to stamp your feet and go through hoops to persuade them that your kid should get accelerated, but once the kid reached high school pretty much anything the kid thought they were ready for they’d okay.</p>
<p>It is interesting to hear that some middle schools are offering high school biology to their 8th graders (since ours has made it clear this is impossible). </p>
<p>@californiaa, it sounds like your school is unusual in not offering the usual sequence of science classes in high school. The sequence really isn’t any problem in a school where kids can take 8 credits. My daughter took the usual sequence of bio, chem, physics. She doubled up physics with AP Chem as a junior and is now in AP bio and AP physics. She also took AP computer science and dual astronomy. So, I think with the exception of AP environmental science (which she wasn’t so interested in), she was able to take all the advanced science classes available at our school. This may be more of an issue at schools where kids take only 6 or 7 classes. However, I think when kids are taking fewer classes, it’s a lot easier to jump into AP classes without the usual year of that subject beforehand. I’ve seen several people mentioning on this site that they take AP bio or AP physics as a first course at their schools. On a 6 or 7 credit schedule, the teachers have more instructional time with the kids than on an 8 credit schedule, and the kids have fewer classes to juggle so can be expected to work somewhat harder.</p>
<p>“In California there are 560 Elementary districts, 87 High School districts, 330 Unified districts. You located one school district that seems to have decent science program.”</p>
<p>I think there is another one in Fairfax County, VA - - that makes two! (TJ shout out!)</p>
<p>And another one in our district on the left coast, where we have somewhat whacky scheduling. </p>
<p>We have three terms a year, 5 classes a term. Classes are 70 minutes long, so an entire year of material is covered over two terms (with the exception of advanced calc which is a three term course). No APs or IB, though kids can and do take AP tests.</p>
<p>In general, kids take one term of chemistry in 9th and 11th, one term of physics in 10th and 12th, and various biology courses in 9th and 11th plus a geology course in 12th.</p>
<p>My freshman and sophomore are taking physics 10 this term which works because the freshman is in pre-calc and the sophomore has just finished multi-variate calc. They have the math background to handle it, so the school allows it. The sophomore has taken all available science courses but two, so will only have one term of high school level science as a junior.</p>
<p>The middle school allowed the kids to take algebra in 5th grade (sophomore) and 6th grade (freshman). That allows them to take physics early in high school because they are prepared. </p>
<p>There are kids all over the map in math at the high school, so kids can take physics 10 when they are ready and have an opening in their schedule.</p>
<p>But wait, how can this be?!? You are in California and that is all impossible there!</p>
<p>Lol!</p>
<p>Me in CA? No, but close. Oregon.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I think this is your point of confusion. There is no “one math”. I’m not sure why you are equating CC to this, it is just a set of standards, not curriculum. CC has nothing to do with science course sequencing, that has been in place a long time. If anything CC advocates using more science problems in math to help students grasp the connections.</p>
<p>I have to agree with others that you did imply that students do not take biology, chemistry, or physics until 11 th grade and instead take a science “soup” course in 9 and 10. I don’t know of any district that offers that path, can you share a link to this curriculum and or school district?</p>
<p>My child attended a public high school and took biology, chemistry and physics before 11 grade. It’s not like its that unusual.</p>
<p>In fairness to californiaa, there are some schools that use an integrated science program in HS, similar to the integrate math curriculum that was in vogue in the 90’s(?). The program does cover the same material as independent bio/chem/physics courses but it does it with a little bit of each over a couple of years.</p>
<p>[California</a> Science Teachers Association - Integrated Science Instructional Sequences](<a href=“http://www.cascience.org/csta/pub_ismodels.asp]California”>http://www.cascience.org/csta/pub_ismodels.asp)</p>