I just marked my first algebra exam of the semester. In a class of 34 students, the grades ranged from 11 to 93. Sixteen of the kids got grades of 80 or above while 10 scored under 50, 6 under 40.Someone with super powers is needed to teach a group this large with this diversity. If I go too fast, or do problems too difficult, I am losing half the class. If I stick to snail's speed many will be bored. I heard a boy in another algebra class say,"This must be a special ed class because we are going so slow." (My class is not unique.)
These kids are in a four term class which means none are math super stars and while they can and do do well, they cannot learn on their own.
Klein praises Waiting For Superman. He should realize that to be a NYC public school teachers is to have super powers. He has nothing to wait for.
