going through the motions - another public-school charade?

I read an article on NPR about a math teacher in Texas who improved attendance and test scores by incorporating hip hop music. Good for him, though I'm skeptical such techniques have much use in teaching math more complicated than arithmetic.

Texas teacher uses rap to make math fun

To get kids hooked on math, teacher brings rap music into the classroom : NPR

Jaime Escalante was in a similar situation but did not dumb things down or give up. 

Jaime Escalante - Wikipedia

Stand and Deliver (1988) - The Gigolo Problem Scene (4/9) | Movieclips

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In 1974, he began to teach at Garfield High School. Escalante was initially so disheartened by the lack of preparation of his students that he called his former employer and asked for his old job back. Escalante eventually changed his mind about returning to work when he found twelve students willing to take an algebra class.[6]

Shortly after Escalante came to Garfield High School, its accreditation became threatened. Instead of gearing classes to poorly performing students, Escalante offered AP Calculus.[7] He had already earned the criticism of an administrator, who disapproved of his requiring the students to answer a homework question before being allowed into the classroom: "He said to 'Just get them inside.' I said, 'There is no teaching, no learning going on here. We are just baby-sitting.'"[8]

Determined to change the status quo, Escalante persuaded a few students that they could control their futures with the right education. He promised them that they could get jobs in engineering, electronics, and computers if they would learn math: "I'll teach you math and that's your language. With that, you're going to make it. You're going to college and sit in the first row, not the back because you're going to know more than anybody."[8]

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Baby-sitting is being generous. My experience being a teacher in US schools was more like being a prison guard, but with less authority and respect. Parents should be the ones disciplining their children. 

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Sometimes cursing the darkness inspires someone to find and light a candle.