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America Sucks At Math. Solution? Cut Out Algebra?!
wordpress.com ^ | July 30, 2012 | SimplePolitiks

Posted on 07/30/2012 10:56:30 PM PDT by grundle

Getting rid of algebra and beyond in our public schools is equivalent to an average American failing algebra because they just didn’t care. If we throw in the towel instead of emphasizing the fact that hard work and self-responsibility aren’t essential qualities in a person, what kind of example are we setting? Furthermore, how can we truly prepare students to go into the workforce if they think they can just drop out of something too difficult instead of putting in the hours and hours of work that is required?? It doesn’t make sense.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: algebra; education; math
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1 posted on 07/30/2012 10:56:39 PM PDT by grundle
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To: grundle

I’m surprised some Freepers don’t want to ban Algebra, since they think it’s, “Islamic.”


2 posted on 07/30/2012 10:59:56 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: grundle

You don’t need math when you have a cash register and say “would you like fries with that?”..


3 posted on 07/30/2012 11:05:43 PM PDT by max americana (Make the world a better place by punching a liberal in the face)
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To: grundle; All

Algebraic thinking should be introduced right after basic numbers. In first and second grade we learned 1 + 1 = 2, 3 + 3 = 6 and similar simple math. It wasn’t until 7th grade that Algebra was introduced with the idea of adding positive and negative numbers. It was really hard to get my brain around that idea and I was not a stupid person. If we had been introduced to ideas like 2 + (-3) = -1 (I think), it would have been much easier to learn more advanced Algebra at a later age.


4 posted on 07/30/2012 11:06:47 PM PDT by gleeaikin
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To: grundle

They already gutted geometry by throwing out the logical proofs and keeping recognition of shapes!


5 posted on 07/30/2012 11:10:39 PM PDT by the_Watchman
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To: nickcarraway

The Arabic derivation of the word raises an interesting point. In fact, the Arabs by no means practiced algebra as we know and love, or hate it. The word itself means “the reduction” and refers to a rote prescription for eliminating negative numbers from an equation ... the prototypical algebraic operation. Of course, there were other prescriptions, but these were all written out in words, so their “algebra” was a sort of catalog of these prescriptions, or “algorithms” ( which term derives from the name of an authority in these matters.)

So, give credit where credit is due, but these Arab practices were transmitted into Europe, and it is there that they flowered into Mathematics as we know it, and Physics and Facebook, and everything else.


6 posted on 07/30/2012 11:24:29 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: dr_lew

Abolish all teachers’ unions. Employ experienced and retired non-unionized mathematicians and scientists and technicians to teach algebra and other math and science courses. Use real accountants and bookkeepers to teach business and accounting. Stop making education of our young the employer of last resort.


7 posted on 07/30/2012 11:39:37 PM PDT by Rapscallion (Beware. Obama has no intention to respect the results of the election.)
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To: dr_lew

The way algebra was taught in school made it impossible to understand; the math had no point to it, no context.

It wasn’t until I was drafting electrical designs and had to determine voltage drop across circuits that algebra finally made sense. I became so involved in mathematics I taught myslef trig.

Too many schools are removing the types of classes, such as wood and machine shop, that gave ‘context’ to math class. That is a very great shame.


8 posted on 07/30/2012 11:41:27 PM PDT by SatinDoll (Natural Born Citizen - born in the USA of citizen parents.)
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To: SatinDoll
Mathematics is abstract, and this is what's difficult about it. Examples and applications are fine, but ultimately you have to abstract, i.e "draw out", the mathematical principles from them, where they stand alone. As Alexander Pope wrote, "Hills peep o'er hills, and alps on alps rise".
9 posted on 07/31/2012 12:17:19 AM PDT by dr_lew
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To: All

Here’s an example of Congressional math:

You have 700 billion dollars, and spend 900 billion. How many people could be provided for, from the remaining 1,600 billion, if we assume that each person needs 20,000 a month which adds up to 2 million a year?


10 posted on 07/31/2012 12:19:57 AM PDT by Peter ODonnell (E pluribus biden)
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To: SatinDoll

ditto. As an ADD kid I struggled with algebra until I completed 8 hours of College Physics. After that Integral and Deferential Calculus wasn’t as difficult as I had anticipated.


11 posted on 07/31/2012 12:26:25 AM PDT by oyez ( .Apparently The U.S. CONSTITUTION has been reduced to the consistency of quicksand.)
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To: grundle

The Elitists want to keep ypu docile and stupid. Willing to accept their “solutions”, or in the absence of your acceptance, they will take your groveing acquiescence with delight.


12 posted on 07/31/2012 12:45:56 AM PDT by Royal Wulff
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To: SatinDoll
Too many schools are removing the types of classes, such as wood and machine shop, that gave ‘context’ to math class. That is a very great shame.

As a machinist, I too taught myself to do trig. I now can solve any math problem the machine shop can throw at me. I never applied myself to any math ed in school because I just didn't see the context or much need of it at the time.

I struggled for a long time but finally overcame my lack of a good math education by cracking some books and using good old fashioned determination. If I never had the need of trig, I never would have bothered or cared about it one bit.

13 posted on 07/31/2012 12:56:30 AM PDT by Bullish (Liars aren't always thieves but thieves are ALWAYS liars)
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To: grundle; TigerLikesRooster

Maybe we can find out how the South Koreans do it??


14 posted on 07/31/2012 1:03:08 AM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: grundle

Algebra is a system of rules that once learned, enable a huge body of problem solving skills. The problem is, no one wants to learn the rules in a culture that only wants to steal from those who have.


15 posted on 07/31/2012 1:13:33 AM PDT by jonrick46 (Countdown to 11-06-2012)
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To: Bullish

I can only add that I love trigonometry and its ne plus ultra, spherical trigonometry, and I pride myself in remembering the various formulas, even if I am due for a review!

“Truth is just truth, you can’t have opinions about truth.” - Peter Schickele


16 posted on 07/31/2012 1:14:21 AM PDT by dr_lew
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To: grundle

Algebra teaches logic. We don’t need no stinking logic!


17 posted on 07/31/2012 1:17:23 AM PDT by donna ("...gay couples raising kids. That's the American way..." -Mitt Romney)
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To: the_Watchman

I was in High School in 1952 to 56 in a small town, Oklahoma school, and they began reducing math requirements when I was in 10th grade. They also began the process of destroying neighborhood schools through consolidation, a process not unlike the Feds consolidating power.


18 posted on 07/31/2012 1:45:57 AM PDT by itsahoot (Old people cost too much money. They make lots of typos too.)
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To: nickcarraway
I’m surprised some Freepers don’t want to ban Algebra, since they think it’s, “Islamic.”

The arabs stole it from the Indians.

19 posted on 07/31/2012 2:26:47 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: grundle

knowledge is power

this is why they’re doing everything they can to keep our kids in the dark

a capitalist society assumes you have the mental tools with which to compete. without them, it all seems ‘unfair’ (the chanted mantra of the occu-tards)


20 posted on 07/31/2012 3:07:57 AM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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