algebra = hard...should we get rid of it?

[mikepegg44]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opini ... wanted=all


wow. That is all I can say. My favorite part of the article was here:

The toll mathematics takes begins early. To our nation’s shame, one in four ninth graders fail to finish high school. In South Carolina, 34 percent fell away in 2008-9, according to national data released last year; for Nevada, it was 45 percent. Most of the educators I’ve talked with cite algebra as the major academic reason.

Shirley Bagwell, a longtime Tennessee teacher, warns that “to expect all students to master algebra will cause more students to drop out.” For those who stay in school, there are often “exit exams,” almost all of which contain an algebra component. In Oklahoma, 33 percent failed to pass last year, as did 35 percent in West Virginia



honestly Ms Bagwell...no one is expected to master any academic subject to graduate high school.

[Jason P]

Has she presented a theorem to prove this theory?

[mikepegg44]

Has she presented a theorem to prove this theory?

(1h x 1s)/1y = .43s

Where i = number of teachers
h = teachers who think algebra is hard,
s = number of students being short changed by a teacher who thought algebra was hard,
y = number of years being taught algebra



I think this formula sums it up

[Jason P]

Has she presented a theorem to prove this theory?

(1h x 1s)/1y = .43s

Where i = number of teachers
h = teachers who think algebra is hard,
s = number of students being short changed by a teacher who thought algebra was hard,
y = number of years being taught algebra



I think this formula sums it up

That's a start.

[gimmesometruth27]

higher level math sucked for me. i made it through calc in high school and i really struggled with that. fortunately i did not need more than college algebra and several stats and a couple of chemistry classes for my degrees.

i can see how algebra and complex math could discourage people from going into certain fields. i know people who dropped out of high school and college because no matter how much tutoring the had, they could just not grasp it.

i think they should continue to teach it, because if they don't it will dumb down the education system for the rest of us. i admit it, to me algebra and its more complex cousins were my toughest subjects.

[peacefrompaul]

I took my college algebra 2 last semester... no more for me, thanks.

[hedonist]

i think they should continue to teach it, because if they don't it will dumb down the education system for the rest of us.

Yes!

(plus it CAN be useful down the road)

Good lord, how did we get to this place of "oh, poor things; it's too difficult...let's not even bother"?

Really sad.

[gimmesometruth27]

[Johnny Abruzzo]

Diagramming sentences is hard too. Should we not learn grammar? Oh wait, we can't do grammar in this country. (or math)

Can't you go to some sort of vocational school instead if you don't want to learn hard shit? What does a high school diploma mean anyway?

[brianlux]

Yeah! My kind of math!

The Replacements said, "I hate music, it's got too many notes". Well, I say, "I hate math, it's got too many numbers".

[peacefrompaul]

I think I'd be down to take a class on math history or theory. Some of that shit is mind blowing.

[MotoDC]

[brianlux]

I think I'd be down to take a class on math history or theory. Some of that shit is mind blowing.

Blows my mind just thinking about it. In my last few year of college my GPA was close to 4 but I'd have never graduated if I hadn't found a way around the math requirement. My left brain must have a few damaged synaptic gaps between neurons. So instead, I got around it by taking a course on developing math curriculum for elementary school.

[hedonist]

Diagramming sentences is hard too. Should we not learn grammar? Oh wait, we can't do grammar in this country. (or math)

Can't you go to some sort of vocational school instead if you don't want to learn hard shit? What does a high school diploma mean anyway?

This is a good question. A diploma means (to me, anyway) that you've learned the basics to the point where you can communicate clearly, solve basic issues, apply some of the theories to everyday life.

I'm all for vocational schools too. Study a skill - a valuable one - and then put it to use. Many make a fine living that way.

(I wish I'd become a plumber!)

[peacefrompaul]

I think I'd be down to take a class on math history or theory. Some of that shit is mind blowing.

Blows my mind just thinking about it. In my last few year of college my GPA was close to 4 but I'd have never graduated if I hadn't found a way around the math requirement. My left brain must have a few damaged synaptic gaps between neurons. So instead, I got around it by taking a course on developing math curriculum for elementary school.

I found a way around most of it... Philosophy...