Reply #18: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can lead a student to knowledge...

[RetAZEd]

But you can't make him think.

I wanted to share an experience with the Algebra professor. My husband taught math remediation classes in rural Arizona with "at risk" kids for a while. Here's a paraphrase of a conversation from his class.

Him: Today we're going to review the multiplication of fractions.
Kid: Mr. ___ We learned that already, Man.
Him: Well ____, come to the board and do this problem then.
Kid: Hey Man,You're the teacher, that's your job.

He just wanted me to add, kids don't always understand the difference between being exposed to a concept and learning it or how to use it.

I once asked a Math teacher from my school district why all students had to take Algebra. He said Math teachers ask that question to the State Board all the time, but aren't able change any minds. Of course, the people who actually work with the kids are the last to be heard.