Some freshmen do not know that “one-half and .5 represent the same number,” said Dennis Piontkowski, chairman of the mathematics department. “We don’t want to keep students in math classes forever, but you can’t just snap your fingers and bring them up to college level.”and then too...
Students are leaving high school with a diploma, but “most are testing at middle-school reading comprehension” and many at elementary-school level, said James SauvĂ©, an English department instructor in charge of revising the remediation classes.The remediation should be addressing 'how to be an effective learner' instead of explaining that .5 = 1/2. If a student had effective learning skills, he/she would have a command of basic skills before entering college.
And students should know that education takes work and failing is an option.
Thank you The Bay Citizen.