Andrew Hacker: Is Algebra Necessary? (PUUUUUUUUKE)

[knitter4democracy]

12. This English major took up through Calc II.

My dad, an engineer, said I had to or he wouldn't pay for college, and I made sure to thank him for it later. The basic rule in math is that, in taking the next level class, you understand the level before so much better. After geometry, you understand algebra better, and after calc, you understand trig better.

In reality, we use algebra every day. We solve for variables and come up with equations all the time, even if we don't call it that. I always make sure to point out to my high school students whenever we use math, and when I teach a knitting class, I make sure to explain all of the math (we use a lot of algebra in knitting and even some trig).

Of course, we've been using the Chicago method to teach, which is part of the problem. We need to switch to Saxon, a method that actually works.