Utterly Meaningless

They insist that everyone should learn algebra because they confuse causation with correlation. There have been studies that shoe students who take algebra are better off in s bunch of ways, but we all know what that means (or doesn’t mean), right?

I know plenty of “tradesmen” that use algebra regularly (some even use Trig) sure someone can “get by” with basic arithmetic but algebra is just faster and more efficient.

You could even say, hey why teach basic arithmetic when counting is all you really need. Adding is just fast counting, multiplication is just fast adding, and exponents are just fast multiplication.

sure you don’t “need” math to build a house but building a house using higher math makes it easier and the process more efficient. can you use calculus for that, not really. Algebra and trig functions, sure can.

Try surveying without trig 🙂

my 2 cents, I just think parents don’t want their kids to learn algebra because they never learned it or used it themselves, their loss.

Ethan, some of those things can be learned on the job. My dad didn’t even finish high school, but he runs machinery that he has to use algebra, other higher math, and programming language for. I took three semesters of algebra in high school but rarely use it. I’ve forgotten all but the basics, so I don’t feel like it’s necessary for high school completion.

I’ll bet its not the subject they object to, but the homework. If there was no homework, no hours full of struggling with hours of hard schoolwork on family time, the parents wouldn’t object.

I’ve tutored a number of homeschooled kids in math – including one 15yo girl in integral calculus. I tell the panicky parents that 72.463% of US citizens lead happy, productive lives knowing just enough math to make change and sign a mortgage without getting skinned.:)

I got quite a bit of flack in high school for taking 3 languages (German, French, and Spanish) but not Pre-Cal my senior year. In fact, not taking pre-cal cost me a scholarship that could have allowed me to go to a private school.

But you know what? I’ve found my language skills to much more useful than even the Algebra I learned before that.

I don’t hear too many educators (or parents) complaining about a lack of language education though. Go figure.

Also, after reading through that article, I must say the the authors makes the mistake of equating “school” with “education”.

I think many parents have realized that most public schools simply don’t educate and they assume that college will do what the public schooling didn’t.

In other words, perhaps parents are just hostile to schools.

This is essential point in David Freidman’s Case for Unschooling

Too many kids who lack basic math skills are forced to take algebra because it’s a graduation requirement. They start pushing it here (Maryland) in middle school and change to a different curriculum in high school in my county, so of course it’s frustrating. Kids are set up to fail; the school system points at them and says they need more funding, more resources, more math specialists, etc.

Algebra can be quite the crutch. It’s supposed to be a notation/shortcut system for logical thought. The schools have ditched the teaching of logic, and now focus on a series of operations and “tricks” with students rarely being exposed to the real goal – logical thought. I didn’t realize how dependent on algebra I’d become, until I tried to help my son work through some challenging word problems. He hasn’t learned algebra yet, so it wasn’t sufficient for me to say, “If this quantity is B, then this one is 1/3B and this one is 2B. Now, set up an equation and use the order of operations to find the value of B.” That would’ve been so much easier and quicker! Instead, I was forced to sit there and laboriously work out a logical, non-algebraic approach and there were lightbulbs coming on all over the place. I realized that I’ve learned the processes, formulas, and operations of algebra well, but without understanding why I was doing what I was doing. It’s humbling to realize that you flew through algebra, trig, and calc, but can struggle to solve a 5th grader’s word problems without them.

Anyway, higher mathematics without a firm base in logic seems like a shoddy way to do things while the opposite, logic without higher mathematics, would still be very useful whatever your goals in life.

I’ve had math through undergrad ODE. I’m an analytical chemist and crunch numbers all day long. And I rarely need anything beyond Algebra I.

IMO, a much more useful math curriculum would be heavy on stats. We’re constantly bombarded with claims of how many people favor this politician or two out of three dentists like this toothbrush. How many people understand how to interpret those claims? And what the stated uncertainties mean?

JMO –

Everybody needs a job and I’m perfectly willing to hire someone to do the things I don’t want to do or I am unable to do for myself.

As a biologist, statistics are very important but I hate doing them. See above.

Everybody needs a job and I will hire you to do my stats. Here’s the data. Call me when you’re finished. 🙂

72.463%
************
LOL!!

DD, DS and I were chuckling yesterday about some commercial that touted a 33.6% improvement in something or other.

“Mom, it must be true. It sounds all science-y.” 🙂

Nance

P.S. Yes, my children can be a bit sarcastic. 🙂

I’m going to be an engineer, and I was a music major. I need ALL my math. There must be some logical, efficient way to get this done. Any good ideas? (feel free to contact me at badgersdaughter=at=gmail=.=com) 🙂

Step One — stop digging!

Everybody needs a job and I will hire you to do my stats. Here’s the data. Call me when you’re finished.

Daryl Cobranchi
Amateur statistician for hire

Can I afford you, Daryl, really? 😉