Posted on 07/21/2017 5:12:11 AM PDT by C19fan
Algebra is one of the biggest hurdles to getting a high school or college degree — particularly for students of color and first-generation undergrads.
It is also the single most failed course in community colleges across the country. So if you're not a STEM major (science, technology, engineering, math), why even study algebra?
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
Yes, and tangential to your point, many sixth-graders' brains will not have developed the capability for abstract thinking that algebra requires. So, very-early introduction of the subject may not be wise.
I could do that.
During the Nixon Administration.
X equals negative b plus or minus the square root of b squared minus four times a times c over two times a.
“You didn’t say there was gonna be MATH!” LOL!
Maybe there’s an ebonics algebra.
.......let me ditto that! I struggled with Algebra but, in my 40+ years of self employment since, I have never once used algebra yet I have employed hundreds on hundreds of projects and live a semi retired life most envy. I even survived a couple wives, their lawyers and many a government bureaucracy’s regulations.
So, in my humble opinion, mastery of Algebra should not be determinative either way for most young people’s future. I guess Engineers use it but I have never been in a business meeting (thousands) where anyone employed Algebra even though some of our projects were in the tens of millions of value.
I never liked Apostol’s approach to calculus, even though that is what I had to use for my undergrad studies. I found several other texts much more comprehensible.
As person shouldn’t be let into college without understanding Algebra, much less be allowed to graduate. Math is logic and the symbolic logic of algebra applies to many situations in life even if you aren’t a STEM major.
Reducing the requirements undermines the value of the degree and for what kids (parents) pay in tuition these days that degree needs to be very valuable. The problem is many in academia these days think their job is to teach students what to think and teaching them how to think can get in the way of what the professors expect them to think.
“So the bottom line is that while algebra is used as a discriminator of scholarship, it is a poor one, so it should be taught instead to those who grasp it, allowing them to go further in its study without being delayed by those who cannot.”
We bring different skills to school/college/life and those good skills should be advanced. Students should not be hammered by those pushing Algebra or the opposite!
One of our younger relatives thrived on the complex math and physics and sucked at using written English. He was told that he had to master the written English. He said that he would hire a good secretary.
He has two engineering disciplines and is a vice president in a field that uses heavy duty math for real building issues 24/7.
He hired a good secretary and kept her as his executive assistant as he went through the ranks to a VP role.
His brother made D’s in Algebra and never understood it. His ability is using real math to solve real problems in making
premimum products while meeting strict standards. He, then translates those abilities into written protocols. He does that with a computer and has no need for a secretary.
Two men with the same basic DNA, in the same family and raised in the same house by the same two parents. They have a lot in common, but their job skill sets are totally different.
One was told by outsiders that he would fail due to his inability to write with English. The other was told he would fail because he could not do Algebra.
Yet both didn’t listen to the know it alls. They maximized their abilities and skills and have been successful at it.
You’re right that it’s not a valid mathematical statement. In a programming class, it’s a valid assignment statement in many languages. The context was a math major in a programming class and I’m fairly certain that c19fan meant it as a joke.
particularly for students of color and first-generation undergrads.
I guess when NPR states this, it’s not racist.
"Improved Performance through Lowered Expectations."
Exactly
Great quote that one.
“Math always wins. Always.” Lurker.
L
That sounds about right. No more algebra. Insert gender and ethnic studies. Get rid of logic based studies and move toward illogical ones.
I'm a double STEM major but that doesn't mean a hill of beans when it comes to balancing the check book, figuring out how much something is going to cost me or how many bags of mulch to buy to cover the flower bed 3 inches thick.
> Liberal viewpoint: If it’s difficult, it must be racist or sexist. So pass a law against it or get an affirmative action exemption for your “special” group. <
Your definition of “liberal viewpoint” is betterthan mine. I bow to the master.
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