Is Algebra Necessary?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opini ... ssary.html

A TYPICAL American school day finds some six million high school students and two million college freshmen struggling with algebra. In both high school and college, all too many students are expected to fail. Why do we subject American students to this ordeal? I’ve found myself moving toward the strong view that we shouldn’t.

CinnamonGirl wrote: www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunda...gebra-necessary.html

A TYPICAL American school day finds some six million high school students and two million college freshmen struggling with algebra. In both high school and college, all too many students are expected to fail. Why do we subject American students to this ordeal? I’ve found myself moving toward the strong view that we shouldn’t.

:faint:
The school system has forgoten how to teach so lets dumb it down some more!*^^&($*&^^^&$#%^&*(&^%$!!!

Do we really want our great grand kids to grow up to be Morlocks?

If you need to find your way around a sphere you'll need a comprehensive understanding of spherical Trigonometry, in order to make sense of that Algebra, Calculus, and Trigonometry are prerequisites. If you don't want kids to grow up and become Engineers, Pilots, Scientists, and Navigators then sure, skip the math.

I would rather children be oriented early on to learn and excel at math and science, those with the obvious aptitude should be encourage to pursue degrees in math and science. Those who don't have an obvious aptitude for math and science still need some basic education in math and science, not everyone is cut out for it but there should be a minimal standard and I think the academic bar should be set fairly high.

I find myself using Algebra quite often......the understanding of algebraic formulas and how to use them help in everything from finance, to construction, to some simple household questions. It also helps students learn to think logically, and to break problems down into manageable segments. I think it's a mistake not to give students all the tools they need so they can have more opportunities in life.....take away Algebra, and there go any careers in engineering, finance, even construction beyond hitting a nail on the head......

The problem with Algebra is that it's not taught as a general rule of thought from a very young age.

I look at algebra as a puzzle, as a problem, and the logical way of thinking that is used to solve algebraic equations can be applied to many things in life. I work in computers, and the constant question when something isn't working is what's changed, what's missing, or why is the whole not a sum of its parts?

Algebra teaches us how to deal with unknowns, how to quantify them, how unknown quantities can be beneficial, how you can cut again and again into a problem to quantify a solution using an absence of information.

Algebra is absolutely vital to our everyday understanding of our world, our problem-solving methods, and the way in which we approach everyday problems that are presented by a lack of information, or the presences of partial information only.


What we really need to do is start teaching it very, very early, and instilling exactly what I posted above. A child should never see a page that says "2x4=?", it should read: "2x4=x, x=_ what is the value of x?". From a teaching perspective, it lays out the math, and the logic, as early as children learn addition/subtraction/multiplication/division. In reality, it's the same thing, but children and adults struggle because they have to change their way of thinking (maybe) halfway through their education.

Let's take the question-marks out of math, and let every child experience algebra as the language, and amazing tool, that it really is.

Blazer Bob wrote: Do we really want our great grand kids to grow up to be Morlocks?

Excellent Wells reference. :thumbsup:



In my line of work, I use not only algebra and geometry, but also trig and calculus. Doing well in chemistry has also helped me stand out in a sea of other custom painters because I can mix unique colors, as well as achieve original effects.... no point in being "just another custom painter". Ironically I find its often my customers who lack the knowledge to have me push envelopes on many occasions.

Algebra should definitely be kept in schools, without it a bleek future is probable.




Badger

Yes absolutely necessary. Perhaps it is the way it is taught. Learning it at a young age makes it so much easier and then working through it in incremental development. This is what I review with teachers in small villages mostly in Ecuador.

Have to make it relevant and then they get it. If you have no idea why you are taking stuff and putting it on x-y axes, what's the point.

Why do I need to know 2 + 4 = x?

Who is on the textbook board in this state? Maybe I'll see if I can get on there. Then I can fight Texas.

2wlady wrote: Have to make it relevant and then they get it. If you have no idea why you are taking stuff and putting it on x-y axes, what's the point.

Why do I need to know 2 + 4 = x?

Who is on the textbook board in this state? Maybe I'll see if I can get on there. Then I can fight Texas.

Why do I need to know the answer of what 2+4 is, or 2 times four? Because children should learn basic math functions, values, etc.. You can say that it needs validity and application, but that wasn't the point of what I suggested. It's the same as asking someone the problem without providing them "x" as the answer, but if we start teaching that "x" is the answer, and "x" has value, from the very beginning... it would be easier for them to apply this later.

Algebra is not necessary. What we need is more education in political correctness, more games at school that don't have any real winners or losers- everybody wins.

Everybody gets a gold star. Nobody gets an "f". Indocturnate the children so the "planet" can be saved, introduce them to recycling, so they can all get green energy jobs. Make sure they understand that rich people are evil, and that the government is good.

After all- it's about making the kids feel good, and making sure they all get along well with each other. You can't have a socialist society if the kids don't get along.

I'm an engineer- I use advanced mathematics everyday, even if it is the Computer Aided design screen generating the trigonometry- somebody has to be intelligent enough to know if the input data is appropriate and accurate.

It won't be our kids doing that in the future- they will be experts in political correctness and do-goodieness. There will be Chinese and Indian children capable of doing tomorrow's engineering so- not to worry.