After Langois had finished, and left, a 19-year-old freshman, looking dazed and discouraged, could only say, "It's hard." A sophomore literature major admitted that this is his third try at a passing grade. "Dostoevski related math to a weird sort of satanism," he said wearily. "I procrastinated as long as I could," said a senior majoring in family relations. A 29-year-old, out of school for 12 years, said he is struggling because "I've forgotten what I learned in high school."
Langois believes it can be done. "Some are a lot more motivated than others," he said. "That's the critical difference." Students ask him why they should strain their brains to learn this algebra if they major in far-off fields. Langois responds that, "Math, science and technology, especially with the computer invasion, affects all aspects of our lives. Then I ask, 'Do you prefer to be technically illiterate? You are learning how to attack problems in a very systematic and organized way. That's obviously important for anything you're going to do in life.'"
Asked if this should be taking place in high school,
Langois replied, "Here at San Francisco State we may do
better because there's a higher level of sophistication.
Here students must develop methods rather than just pass tests."
--C.I.