Say Goodbye To X+Y: Should Community Colleges Abolish Algebra?

NPR ^ | July 19, 2017 | Kayla Lattimore and Julie Depenbrock

[central_va]

My first computer class a math major student got into an argument with the teacher about how:

a = a + 1;

was impossible. He quit the class.

[NutsOnYew]

So if you're not a STEM major (science, technology, engineering, math), why even study algebra?

Because abstract thinking gets you outside the box.

[j.argese]

That would be a piss poor barometer.

[jeffc]

99% of the math I learned in college has never been used, except by rocket scientists. And I was studying cardiopulmonary technology!

[Lou L]

But Linear Algebra was my downfall.

That was a tough one, I agree. I had a big, burly Russian professor, with a thick accent that taught my linear algebra class, too. I eked out of there with a C+. I thought calculus was significantly easier.

[NorthMountain]

Not at all. Algebra is an exercise in abstraction and logical reasoning. It requires pure cognitive ability, knowledge of anything in the physical world is completely unnecessary.

[cincinnati65]

Gender/Ethnic studies will be mandatory.

[AustinBill]

Actually, studying mathematics develops abstract thinking. Studying history develops critical thinking. Both are important to the development of the mind.

[KC_Lion]

[wbill]

Better question is why are these low IQ folks in college at all?

Racist! Bigot! Sexist!

;-)

I consulted at a college, who prided itself on its "diversity". Since all of the smart diversity went to good schools - not a 3rd string safety school like this one - the college was left with the dregs. They *STILL* couldn't get diversity in the correct numbers, so the college subsidized their education.

End result? A college half-populated with marginal-to-fair non-diverse students taking worthless "XXXX Studies" degrees, whose tuition supported the other half. The other half was comprised of the barely literate, who were pursuing degrees in disciplines like "Social Justice and Community Organizing" (not a joke, not sarcasm), who were looking to kill a few years' time for little-to-no cost.

This, in general, was looked at as a positive situation by faculty, staff, and students. I've no idea what the students thought when they graduated with worthless diplomas and 100K in student loans. Few of them were very bright, I doubt they gave it much consideration.

[Blagden Alley]

That's the teachers fault. He should have differentiated between "=" and "==". One is a statement and one is an assignment of one calculation to a place called "a". Learning assembler makes it clearer.

[Nifster]

All the folks who didn’t bother to work the problems or get help from the instructor are cheering.

Algebra is one of the few things most people use through out their lives. Many just don’t realize it

[NewHampshireDuo]

I took Algebra in the 9th grade..... Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus were all required before high school graduation. Why are colleges teaching Algebra?

Ditto here, more or less. (Algebra II introduced calculus). In my high school you had to take these if you were college bound.

[Nifster]

Precisely

[Joe 6-pack]

This ought to be good. Just about any time the question is raised as to the contributions of Arabic culture to the world, libs will sputter, "They gave us algebra!" While the veracity of that assertion falls into a gray area, it's about all they have to hang their hats on.

We should join their little game and start calling out those who want to do away with algebra as islamopbobes.

[Ouderkirk]

I found calculus easy. But Linear Algebra was my downfall.

I found Lin Algebra easy too.

The hardest one for me was Partial Diff EQ's. But once I figured it out, it became easier. Still not an easy course to get done.

[Aevery_Freeman]

>>"most “math teachers” teach the arithmetic. "

As a Math/Science teacher, I beg to differ.

Were they to teach arithmetic, they would have better luck at the Maths.

Teachers dare not demand rote learning like the multiplication tables nor do they teach thinking skills.

To look like effective teachers, they teach pattern recognition so students can "guess" correctly.

Sad but true.

[Bob]

If I’m not mistaken, that was a joke.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Al-Gebra, contrary to President Obama, being one of the only real contributions of Arabs to civilization, I say don’t just stop teaching it, make it illegal!

(Hey, if Obama doesn’t have to be rational, why should we?!)

[unread]

Hey...this is America....we don't have to know nothing... We can bring in foreign workers to do our math for us..../s