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“Instead of requiring Algebra, Geometry, etc., I’d like to see the same math covered but organized according to: Financial Investments, Real Estate, Business, Building & Construction, etc. If this girl (and many other students) were given examples of how math applies to her life, she might become interested.”

I had to take Algebra, Geometry, and Trig in High School. I swore up and down that I would never need a single one of them. After Machinist School I walked into my first job (as a Machinist), my boss handed me a steel plate that had three reference holes stamped into it.

I had to use the Algebra to calculate the correct feed and speed to bore the holes for a bolt pattern.

I had to use the Geometry to lay out he holes according to the blueprint.

I then had to use the Trig to determine the distance between the holes to measure them with my calipers

The point is that you have no idea what you are going to use as adult so you need a broad based liberal education combined with hands on technical classes to make you well rounded.

The point is that you have no idea what you are going to use as adult so you need a broad based liberal education ...

....which goes back to a point I made earlier about 'the cult of the child.' It is up to the adults in a child's life to guide them into a broad based education because we know as adults that we never know what we might need. And maybe...just maybe... the adults know what they are doing when they expect a 14 year old to learn algebra.

The point is that you have no idea what you are going to use as adult so you need a broad based liberal education combined with hands on technical classes to make you well rounded.

In case anyone had the impression I was suggesting algebra isn't necessary when I typed,

“Instead of requiring Algebra, Geometry, etc., I’d like to see the same math covered but organized according to: Financial Investments, Real Estate, Business, Building & Construction, etc.,"

I want to make it more clear: In my personal opinion, all of those courses should be covered, but they should be organized differently. IOW, instead of the material being organized into courses called Algebra, Geometry, etc., the same material could be organized into courses that apply to everyday life.

I'll put it this way: What would capture the students' interest more? Telling them they must learn the material to pass a test? Or, telling them they are learning the material so they can buy or build a house, invest money, manage a business, etc.?

There are math programs available right now that use real-life applications, but critics say they aren't effective. The problem isn't that real-life applications are used; the problem seems to be that they rely too heavily on calculator use, for example. Many people would like to see a better, more intensive math program using real-life applications.