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Is algebra an unnecessary stumbling block in US schools?
Associated Press ^ | Mar. 27, 2016 1:06 PM EDT | Karen Matthews

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: actingwhite; algebra; andrewhacker; arth; commiecore; education; liberalagenda; liberalprofessors; math; matheducation; mathematics; queenscollege; statistics; stem
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To: Olog-hai

Folks here complain enough about the H1 visas. The numbers would skyrocket if students did not learn algebra not that they are learning all that much now.

I have an 11 year old who is working from the local JC’s algebra book. She started when she was 7. It can be done.

A recent WSJ piece said that the US will have a math degree short fall of over a million in the next few years.


41 posted on 03/28/2016 5:22:25 PM PDT by rey
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To: Sasparilla

Maybe because that isn’t algebra?


42 posted on 03/28/2016 5:22:29 PM PDT by sparklite2 ( "The white man is the Jew of Liberal Fascism." -Jonah Goldberg)
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To: Olog-hai

Algebra isn’t that hard. The problem is that the vast majority of our teachers — even the ones teaching math — are clueless about algebra and how to help kids learn it.

The comment about conceptual thinking is dead on, but even more so. Master educator Michael Strong says that success in algebra requires ability in conceptual thinking as a prerequisite. Ability to think conceptually is a better predictor than great arithmetic skills for success in algebra. Furthermore, conceptual thinking can easily be taught through Socratic Practice, in-depth discussions of textual material in small groups.


43 posted on 03/28/2016 5:22:46 PM PDT by AZLiberty (A is no longer A, but a pull-down menu.)
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To: Olog-hai

His opinion on this is worth nothing. A US degree is already worth very little due to dumbing down so as to pass failing students.


44 posted on 03/28/2016 5:23:14 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Islam mandates warfare against unbelievers and is absolutely incompatible with Western society.)
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To: Don Corleone
Not needed unless you want to learn how to reason and think logically.

Yeah, we see a lot of that nowadays.

45 posted on 03/28/2016 5:23:47 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: RobbyS

>>Actually it is a means of separating out those who ought to go on to college and those who shouldn’t<<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A huge problem in society is the idea that everyone can and should go to college.

It’s why the millennials are up to their a$$es in debt without decent job prospects, even with a degree.

This is the problem that is the core of Bernie’s support from millennials according to my sources (i.e., college students who I asked).


46 posted on 03/28/2016 5:24:31 PM PDT by Disestablishmentarian
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To: Olog-hai

Why have school at all? Just place training responsibilities onto the companies that want to hire. /sarcasm


47 posted on 03/28/2016 5:24:38 PM PDT by CodeToad (Islam should be banned and treated as a criminal enterprise!)
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To: bgill

I use it in my daily life as a stay at home mom, and I definitely used it as a software engineer.


48 posted on 03/28/2016 5:24:55 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Future Snake Eater

There was a letter in the WSJ recently from a gentleman who runs a company who uses a lot of analysts. He says it is very difficult to find any applicants with much exposure to calculus let along fluent.


49 posted on 03/28/2016 5:25:15 PM PDT by rey
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To: Don Corleone

Nice logic there


50 posted on 03/28/2016 5:25:49 PM PDT by StAntKnee (Add your own danged sarc tag)
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To: Olog-hai

They need to replace it with a course in the “history of homosexual art” or something like that... much more applicable in today’s USA.


51 posted on 03/28/2016 5:26:10 PM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: Olog-hai

I use algebra almost every day and trig at least once a week. A lot of people get by without it, but they’re mostly bloodsuckers.


52 posted on 03/28/2016 5:26:36 PM PDT by be-baw (still seeking)
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To: arl295

Algebra separates the men from the boys, so to speak.

Just as Calculus does in college.

It is an educational learners permit.

It is also the basic ingredients of Newtonian mechanics.


53 posted on 03/28/2016 5:27:32 PM PDT by Ouderkirk (To the left, everything must evidence that this or that strand of leftist theory is true)
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To: madprof98

Get rid of writing! I hate to write!

Actually, I wish engineers would be taught technical writing. It’s amazing how bad we are at writing!


54 posted on 03/28/2016 5:27:58 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: DiogenesLamp

Okay. Care to elaborate?


55 posted on 03/28/2016 5:28:08 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

I think reading at a 6th grade level should be a priority in high school.


56 posted on 03/28/2016 5:28:23 PM PDT by JJ_Folderol
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To: Olog-hai

Wanna make a living on computers? Learn algebra.


57 posted on 03/28/2016 5:28:28 PM PDT by dirtboy
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To: Olog-hai

If it’s hard - skip it!

(teachers union)


58 posted on 03/28/2016 5:30:13 PM PDT by impactplayer
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To: madprof98

Naw, cursive writing gets ‘em.


59 posted on 03/28/2016 5:30:13 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Democrats bait then switch; their fishy voters buy it every time.)
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To: Olog-hai

Perhaps we could get more interest in algebra if we called it social justice mathematics or social justice algebra.


60 posted on 03/28/2016 5:30:20 PM PDT by Maine Mariner
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