Education

Goblinmonger

(22,340 posts)

22. I get the same comments about English.

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 06:15 PM

Jul 2012

I took the OP article a different way. A way I agree with. Perhaps that is my own information processing error. I think the point is that not everyone needs to take Algebra. I don't think it is an argument that we shouldn't teach math to students, but, instead, give them what they are ready for and what they will need. Not everyone needs to prep for trig and then calculus. Teaching real-life math examples about how to figure square footage for projects around the house does not need to come from a geometry class, per se, but we could redesign math classes to meet needs of those not going into math fields. Teaching it the way we have just because it's the way we have is not a good reason to continue.

And I entered college as an engineering major and still love math and am still in awe of those things that initially made me consider engineering even though I teach literature and writing.

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Andrew Hacker: Is Algebra Necessary? (PUUUUUUUUKE) [View all] alp227 Jul 2012 OP

except as an elective Algebra is pretty much useless for many students... msongs Jul 2012 #1

False. Try, for instance, grasping the calculation of compound interest on a bank loan for a home.. lastlib Jul 2012 #4

Maybe. But students who don't tackle those subjects may be shutting doors prematurely. pnwmom Jul 2012 #6

I practiced math until I CRK7376 Aug 2012 #57

I know there are people like you because my sister is one of them. pnwmom Aug 2012 #60

Math is part of a broad liberal arts education exboyfil Jul 2012 #7

+1 proud2BlibKansan Jul 2012 #11

That's a crock. Daemonaquila Jul 2012 #8

Algebra won't help them make change. Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #18

plenty of jobs require you to find an unknown quantity. like a number of hospital jobs, for example HiPointDem Jul 2012 #37

I agree 2pooped2pop Aug 2012 #51

As a Nurse.... AnneD Feb 2013 #63

are you kidding? trixie Mar 2013 #65

So who is this brain-fart-from-hell, anyway? Without my training in math.... lastlib Jul 2012 #2

I don't think his argument is that you shouldn't have taken it, or Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #19

I don't write for a living, so why take English? Confusious Jul 2012 #30

You are making it too binary and simplistic. Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #42

?! Confusious Jul 2012 #47

Grunting and bartering 101 Democracyinkind Feb 2013 #62

I most certainly do care about their outcome. lastlib Jul 2012 #44

I don't think that logical, disciplined thinking has to hinder the creative process. pnwmom Aug 2012 #61

The language of science........ suston96 Jul 2012 #3

Figures a "soft science," ( I say that loosely Confusious Jul 2012 #5

Yes. Of course. Hard science is the only true test of intelligence. Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #20

Algebra doesn't qualify as "hard science" Confusious Jul 2012 #23

Your attitude toward the "soft sciences" Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #24

Just chomping at the bit, aren't you Confusious Jul 2012 #25

Since I was organizing my collection Confusious Jul 2012 #26

Nice math library.... xocet Aug 2012 #48

I think Mr. Hacker's Supposition is Completely Off-Base dballance Jul 2012 #9

English vs. Math different argument Genghis_Sean Aug 2012 #53

Interestingly Enough Writing and Comprehension were important at my "technical" University dballance Aug 2012 #54

thats just it trixie Mar 2013 #66

This is a crosspost from the Onion, right? mbperrin Jul 2012 #10

Your last sentence Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #21

I would invite you to room 160 at Odessa High School for any class period after school starts on mbperrin Jul 2012 #36

The issue I'm working on as school starts this fall Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #41

I do it at the end of the first week of class. mbperrin Jul 2012 #43

This English major took up through Calc II. knitter4democracy Jul 2012 #12

Bizarre pokerfan Jul 2012 #13

I taught math for many years. During that time, I never promoted the view struggle4progress Jul 2012 #14

I get the same comments about English. Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #22

No doubt you do get similar idiotic remarks about English. But I'm not about to make struggle4progress Jul 2012 #45

I am not against the broad exposure. I think it is important. Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #46

How about this argument.... xocet Aug 2012 #49

+1. Every kid should know the basics of everything. Math, art, music, science, history, PE, HiPointDem Jul 2012 #39

I find it interesting that math and music go hand in hand trixie Mar 2013 #67

Better ways to change math education RobertAustin Jul 2012 #15

Math has never CRK7376 Aug 2012 #58

More so than memorizing multiplication tables... ehrnst Jul 2012 #16

It drives me crazy that my middle school students come to me with no mental math skills. LWolf Jul 2012 #17

No. Igel Jul 2012 #29

imo going to calculators immediately = fake education. for math-minds who intuitively grasp the HiPointDem Jul 2012 #40

The Beauty of Algebra. mia Jul 2012 #27

We wouldn't want to challenge students! liberal N proud Jul 2012 #28

Ugh... algebra is painfully easy... Lemonwurst Jul 2012 #31

Plus, searching for the unknown can be lots of fun. mia Jul 2012 #34

ugh math hard d_r Jul 2012 #32

my mind does`t compute algerbra madrchsod Jul 2012 #33

See? You DO understand algebra. mbperrin Aug 2012 #56

No. It's not. Igel Jul 2012 #35

"He learned it in application". I had a similar experience. The way i was taught math was very HiPointDem Jul 2012 #38

Necessary? ICDpress Aug 2012 #50

(x² + y²)² = (x² - y²)² + (2xy)² Solve it, or else. DetlefK Aug 2012 #52

my GOOD experience with algebra skippercollector Aug 2012 #55

Lots of good points in all CRK7376 Aug 2012 #59

Seems pretty obvious that political science is certainly a waste of time and energy. mbperrin Feb 2013 #64