Posted on 03/28/2016 5:07:09 PM PDT by 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. …
(Excerpt) Read more at bigstory.ap.org ...
Reading all this makes me wish I spent more time on trigonometric substitution; that was my weakest point in calc.
Yes...ALL those THEOREMS!!! I’m still haunted 45 years later
LOL!
Must be able to make change in one’s head first, before manipulating multiple variables.
A dumbed-down populace is an easily led populace.
Depends...what KIND of algebra are we talking about? Basic and intermediate algebra and geometry, dang right we need those, the formulas can be applied in all kinds of places.
But higher level algebra needs to be reserved for honors classes in high school and college instead of being pushed as mandatory for every student (at least where I went). One of the reasons computers were made in the first place was to do those kinds of calculations...I say this as someone who has been in executive suit-and-tie jobs at major companies: I’ve never frelling needed it. Unless a student has a very active interest in a hardcore science or tech position, they’ll forget it all a year after graduating and liely never need it.
Sounds like a great teacher. Ha!
I have just one simple question, that even "Lesbian women's Studies" morons an understand.
Is there a single "First world" country on the planet, successful in technology and the hard sciences Which does NOT teach algebra in High School AND higher education?
Go Boolean!
If you studied all of those subjects and understood them, I am certain that your ability to think and approach problems in a logical manner is directly related to those studies. Of course, I know nothing of your reasoning abilities. I’m assuming they are good. :-)
That by the way, is the only example in the English language of a double positive making a negative!
Not even in the second world was/is that the case.
Those who seek to keep those computers working will perhaps need it.
Booyeah!
Booyeah!
I hope my words don’t Hex us down in NE Texas
There are 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who know boolean and those who don’t.
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What’s strange is that Math was my worst subject in school, by far. My best subjects were History & English.
Despite the fact that I was a moron at Math, I made very good grades in Algebra & actually enjoyed it.
I never could figure that out.
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