this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2025
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In Oklahoma, the requirement usually is up to “algebra 2” - this is mostly domain and range, finding roots of polynomials, and logarithms.

IMHO, the world would be better if calculus was a required part of the high school curriculum. Like yeah, most people aren’t going to need the product rule in day to day life, but the fundamental ideas about rates of change seem like they’re something that everyone human deserves to be exposed to.

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[–] andros_rex@lemmy.world 28 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I’m certified in special education and spent two hours of my day today teaching an adult how to do subtraction. I’ve worked with kids with Down syndrome. I entirely believe that it would be possible for 95% of students, if given the appropriate support, to learn how to take a simple derivative and have some vague understanding of what they did. It just takes visuals, good use of real world examples and metaphor, and patience.

[–] EditsHisComments@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

I have family working in Special Education, most of them with kids under 12, some through early adulthood. All your points are correct. But from what I know of US Education, most schools - or schools in certain states - will not receive appropriate support and the students will ultimately be hurt for it. Think of the implementation of Common Core in the mid 2010s.

Students with proper support and encouragement can accomplish amazing feats, but most students don't have the resources to do that on their own (or with limited support and instruction.)

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Looking at the state of the US right now, calculus wouldn't be where I'd devote my energy.