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I was also a very poor math student in HS that went on to get a physics degree. I can say that it was the method of instruction as well as my own lack of motiva

I was also a very poor math student in HS that went on to get a physics degree. I can say that it was the method of instruction as well as my own lack of motivation. Classes were boring and easy to pass even if you did not know the material. In my state you needed a 2.0 GPA to get into a state school. This is generally doable for even the worst students. The lack of real consequences for not studying and doing homework played a huge role in my childhood academic experiences. I am often baffled when I hear reports of students who are over stressed by the requirements of high school academics. The standards seem now to be even lower than when I was in school yet students constantly complain that they can't keep up. It's mind boggling.

Balgair 12y ago
I believe it may have to do with a reverse bell-curve that seems to be prevalent in some areas. My High School was public and pretty good overall. However, we had basically 2 classes of people. The over-achievers and the under-achievers. The overs were on 3 varsity teams, had perfect grades, were on church youth group, Eagle scouts, etc all at once. The unders were high or drunk most classes. You pretty much were in AP classes or were getting D's; a reverse bell-curve. Now granted, this was a decade or more ago, but my little brother says its still the same mostly. But from this, I can understand the confusing narratives. You have some kids killing themselves [0](produced by one of the moms from the high school a hill over) and some kids with no future and they know it. Overs don't take classes with, play on teams with (due to GPA requirements), or hang out (if at all) with the Unders. Its tough to tease out a single statement because there are possibly 2 schools sandwiched on the same grounds. [0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_Nowhere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_Nowhere

Balgair 12y ago

I believe it may have to do with a reverse bell-curve that seems to be prevalent in some areas. My High School was public and pretty good overall. However, we had basically 2 classes of people. The over-achievers and the under-achievers. The overs were on 3 varsity teams, had perfect grades, were on church youth group, Eagle scouts, etc all at once. The unders were high or drunk most classes. You pretty much were in AP classes or were getting D's; a reverse bell-curve. Now granted, this was a decade or more ago, but my little brother says its still the same mostly. But from this, I can understand the confusing narratives. You have some kids killing themselves [0](produced by one of the moms from the high school a hill over) and some kids with no future and they know it. Overs don't take classes with, play on teams with (due to GPA requirements), or hang out (if at all) with the Unders. Its tough to tease out a single statement because there are possibly 2 schools sandwiched on the same grounds. [0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_Nowhere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_Nowhere