Is algebra an unnecessary stumbling block in US schools?

Associated Press ^ | Mar. 27, 2016 1:06 PM EDT | Karen Matthews

[Olog-hai]

Who needs algebra?

That question muttered by many a frustrated student over the years has become a vigorous debate among American educators, sparked by a provocative new book that argues required algebra has become an unnecessary stumbling block that forces millions to drop out of high school or college.

“One out of 5 young Americans does not graduate from high school. This is one of the worst records in the developed world. Why? The chief academic reason is they failed ninth-grade algebra,” said political scientist Andrew Hacker, author of “The Math Myth and Other STEM Delusions.”

Hacker, a professor emeritus at Queens College, argues that, at most, only 5 percent of jobs make use of algebra and other advanced math courses. He favors a curriculum that focuses more on statistics and basic numbers sense and less on (y – 3)2 = 4y – 12.

“Will algebra help you understand the federal budget?” he asked. …

[mylife]

Math is a language.
Sadly I become less articulate as time passes and soon will be reduced to communicating in a series of grunts.

[mylife]

Programmers do it with twos complement

[dfwgator]

The fact that this question is even being asked says it all about where this country is headed.

[kvanbrunt2]

I looked at algebra as a logical thought process

So even though many people won’t need the hard mechanics, the thought process can be applied elsewhere>>>>absolutly rules based logic to solve problems. math word problems were my favorite. then beloved calculus

[righttackle44]

I think it’s reasonable to ditch algebra. All these many decades since Algebra I, Geometry, . . . I’ve not used them whatsoever.

Well, I'm glad that the engineers who design the bridges you and I drive over every day, the architects who design the buildings, the pharmacists who learned chemistry because they learned the basics of solving chemical equations in algebra class, and so many others, use these mathematics disciplines every day.

And those who design munitions used by our military forces also use math.

Without exposure to algebra in high school gives, students will have no insight as to how mathematics can help them solve many problems in America, give them insight about problem solving, and pass on their knowledge and abilities.

With respect to the dumbing down of American kids, we've already had a good laugh at the girl who could not testify in court because she could not read cursive writing.

Dumbing down is a good way to describe an American school system that does not offer algebra and geometry.

[dhs12345]

Kind of important if you are a software engineer.

[dfwgator]

People who can reason and think logically are a threat to the government.

[Olog-hai]

Imagine no more Isaac Newtons, never mind Einsteins?

[kvanbrunt2]

I always did well in Algebra, got A’s in it, never understood why is was so difficult.

But yes, it does weed out, it is a logical though process that many people just don’t grasp>>> me too mr lambert would give me an a until i finished all the stupid home work after aceing the tests. once you figure it out then it’s just busy work.

[goodnesswins]

Loved Algebra....HATED Geometry...but ANY challenge is called, in my book, EDUCATION.

[sparklite2]

One of the things I learned as a writer is to be stingy in the use of adverbs. Most times, if you’re using an adverb it means your verb is not strong enough. Get a better verb and eliminate a word. Brevity is part of the art.

[kvanbrunt2]

As construction goes, they were yelling at each for stealing calculators by the end of the project.

It is necessary.>>> funny as well i worked on my buds house and had to do a fancy bit of drywall on a stairway. it was all geometry and he couldn’t believe the piece fit in the hole.

[MHGinTN]

Mine will be guttural squeaks ...

[Ozark Tom]

The shaping of the mind which occurs through mathematical gymnastics, stays with a person as a more reasoned approach to problem solving. You may not formally use the mathematics explored while acquiring an education; but, that immersion leaves a lasting imprint of formal logic.

[mylife]

I know a guy that was working on his masters in electrical engineer who actually told me, “i found the problem, this inductor is installed backwards” He also once told me once “This attenuator has to much gain”.

[Do the math]

I have to agree with your daughter. I just finished grading my Calculus I exam 2. Most students fail calculus because of their weak algebra skills. I thought I was good at algebra until I took my first Calculus course (spent more time on the algebra than the calculus). Most of my students will do the Calculus part of the problem correctly then screw up the remaining algebra.

Algebra is a tool that I use every day. When I was in school I always tried to get to the point where I no longer needed the teacher. Mastering algebra teaches you how to learn on your own.

[sparklite2]

Loved Algebra....HATED Geometry..

---

Same here. Geometry required memorizing a whole bunch of stuff that I just couldn’t retain. I hated it. With algebra, I had to remember very little and used what I remembered to figure out everything else.

[Ozark Tom]

Algebra as a prerequisite to voting?

[Olog-hai]

Teachers and professors warned me off “wordiness” also. Even Shakespeare wrote, “Brevity is the soul of wit”.

[Ozark Tom]

Word problems...read a statement and formulate a mathematical description...a very critical skill.