openning blog

This news is published on july 27, 2011, by RACHEL CROMIDAS from The New York Times. the reporter introduces the new creative camp at Bard College in New York City for low income students gifted in mathematics, ages ranged around eighth-grade.
these adolescents who were selected to this math-camp are more outstanding in mathematics than their peers. everyday, these kids have to go through 6 hours of head-scratching math instruction in a college dormitory far from home. however, for them, this heavy workload does not feels like what it sounds, not just because their talent and innate interests to mathematics, but also due to the well-designed strategy and detail by program holder. some of strategies are purposely designed to make the campers spontaneously cooperate to the program. as writen in the news, "they all love math. At this camp, asking “What kind of math do you like, algebra or geometry?” is considered an appropriate icebreaker, and invoking the newly learned term “the multiplication principle” elicits whoops and high-fives." some campers express that eventhought the camp is boring sometimes, but they are really thankful for this free training because they could understand the insightful effect this camp can give them in future.
In my opinion, this kind of academic training will definitely enable these kids competiveness in academic aspects in future. as we know, math the most important part of the general education in every educational system over the world; especially for the entry-college level education, the heavy math training will bring the campers a huge advantage compare to the peers. However, this kind of activity might has some side-effects to the whole education system. few years ago, the same phenomenon appears in china, many summer academic camp becomes most students' choices. the major reason for this academic camp boom is because a specialization in certain academic subject, such as prizes in academic olympics championship, can be an bonus condition for college entry exam.





http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/nyregion/a-sleepaway-camp-for-low-income-ny-math-whizzes.html?ref=education