Is Algebra Necessary?
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-08-29/algebra-necessary
Mastering algebra is widely considered a stepping stone to higher mathematics and college readiness. But last month, a political science professor touched off a debate when he challenged the value of algebra in American education. He argued we should remove algebra from high school and college curriculum, citing it is a key reason why kids drop out of school. But critics say the issue is not algebra – it’s how it’s taught. With more effective class instruction, the course can instill critical thinking and reasoning skills needed in everyday life. Diane talks with her guests about math education and why it matters.
Guests
Andrew Hacker
professor of political science at Queens College of New York. He is the co-author of "Higher Education? How Colleges Are Wasting Our Money and Failing Our Kids - And What We Can Do About It."
Ed Nolan
program supervisor of mathematics in Montgomery County.
Jacob Vigdor
professor of public policy and economics at Duke University.
Judy Bolton-Fasman
a writer and parenting columnist.
Comments
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I think Arthur Benjamin has a good idea, although it is more about what we teach after algebra. He argues that instead of building up to calculus, we should teach statistics first. The reason is that understanding statistics is more useful in daily life.
http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_s_formula_for_changing_math_edu...
I would like the panel to suggest what subject(s) should be used to do two things: a. Teach critical thinking skills b. Determine which students are suited for higher math and college. Seems to me that Algebra offers not only useful math skills but also a handy touchstone for assessing student's future learning.
I have used Algebraic methods and formulae my whole life for mundane household issues like estimating how much paint to buy or how much milk to plan for the kids.
But I do agree that Pearsons Coefficients and the point-slope intercept method have come up very infrquently. By contrast, the emails and business memos that I have dealt with are prima facia evidence of the need for improved thinking and communication skills.
No, it's not for all students. I remember the feeling of complete failure in my algebra classes. I did fine in basic math but algebraic concepts were beyond my comprehension. The fall out was that for most of my adult life I was totally intimidated and fearful of numbers. I put off college for a number of years because I knew I would have to take more math courses. Now in my current job I have a different view and love working with them... but no algebra involved. Why force it on students whose career or educational goals do not involve higher math requirements, such as the sciences, etc?
Algebra should not be taught in high school, it should be taught in first grade!
Algebra is the alphabet of modern life. Those who don't learn it will be mathematically disabled and always need assistance.
For example, algebra is needed to fully understand a simple spread sheet.
Stephen Meskin
Columbia, MD
I taught math for 5 years. Before and after I've always been amazed at business math and how difficult it actually must be working with the formulas without the general principles of algebra.
I TOTALLY agree that it is about HOW Algebra is taught that makes it cumbersome for students. I can say that from experience, because I walked out of my Regents exam for Algebra when I was in 9th grade. I spent the whole semester not understanding what its foundations where, why it mattered, how it used in real life, etc.
As an artist and writer, I think an equation is a lot like any composition. There is purpose and reason for it. Back then, I really wanted to know more about its history, how it fit into society in certain periods of history, and then how it fit into our present day. I was always asking the question, "Why"? Unfortunately, my teacher at the time could not see the "big picture", only the numbers on the page. If he had reasoned with me and showed me the logic behind the computations, He may have had an A student instead of a D student.
For years I have believed that students would benefit far more from a course in basic logic, including how we are deceived routinely by advertisers, politicians, talk show hosts, and religious leaders through illicit arguments and rhetorical tricks. This actually and directly teaches critical thinking skills.
Algebra teaches critical thinking only secondarily and most of us never use it again. Obviously, those on a technical/science track will need to take algebra, but EVERYONE would benefit from a well-taught class in Logic 101.
Rev. John Jackman
Our conversation about education has to change. We talk "education" as though it is a monolithic experience, as though it is one topic, as though the inner city and the rural experiences are the same at the suburban. They are not.
Talking about what and how math is taught without identifying the object of that teaching is without value. When it come to math, we have the greatest problem of all. Across the board, math teaching is problematic. Teachers in the grade school with rare exception do not like and do not understand math. Combine that with the problem of the curricula and we have a problem with math foundations in the inner city, the rural schools and the suburban schools.
But ultimately in a nation which needs more STEM qualified students we can ill afford to drop algebra or other challenging math subjects. We need to change the way math is taught and we need to change the way we talk about education.
As a statistics teacher I can tell you that algebra is essential to learning statistics.
My brother (who is three years older than I am) began teaching me Algebra when I was in the sixth grade, and I absolutely loved it. I actually think that children are highly under-estimated and can learn practically anything placed before them at almost any age. I do agree that much of it comes down to how the material is presented. I've already began introducing Algebraic math concepts to his youngest daughter (age 7) to prepare her for the years of math ahead.
Algebra is the basis to understand everyday math like interest rates, compounding, time value of money, loans and credit and so on. So there are people in finance who will benefit if many never learn these things.
I struggled with math in high school and college failing Calculus at both levels but I think removing calculus or especially algebra would leave our students less prepared for life. I think that people should be less set back by failure and just because you fail algebra should not be an excuse to drop out of high school just keep taking it again until you pass . I feel like math is the most useful thing that I learned in high school and college and would not trade my math skills for any other use of school time.
I am a graphic designer. I use mathematics, rooted in Algebra in the form of scaling, spacial relationships and even color tints and shades in my daily work. Math is not only for accountants and engineers. It is part of a balanced brain.
I believe that public education will never be able to rise above the simple fact that some people will NEVER be able to understand some difficult subjects; algebra being one of them.
Now unless science will come up with some way to manipulate the human mind so that EVERYONE can comprehend these more difficult subjects, these students will continue to be frustrated from now on.
We just can't seem to accept the reality of this fact. And since we can't, some type of genetic manipulation is the only option.
I went to one of the best high schools in the country here in northern Virginia. Not only did I not learn an ounce of algebra, but I was somehow promoted through algebra 1, geometry and algebra 2, and then allowed to graduate without passing a single maths course after Algebra 1 (in which I received a D-). I begged to be put into consumer math or a remedial class to no avail: as my other classes were all AP and honors, my counselors were confused, and I was denied an opportunity to actually improve my core math skills. I never was able to take math in college, as anything beyond the most basic algebra was opaque to me. I shudder to think of my fate had I gone to a different school, as I almost certainly would not have graduated, and not gone on to college.
My daughter struggled through two years of Integrated Algbra/Trig. She was tutored two times a week always completed her homework and did test corrections. She failed the state exam with a grade of 54. After so much effort why should she be made to take this class again...a class that that more than 1/4 of kids do not pass and those that do overwhlmingly receive a suspicious 65 (just passing) grade on the final exam? Did I mention that she is planning on majoring in dance in college?
Andrew Hecker represents much of what is WRONG with our American education system.....
He sez: Well, the little darlings don't like this subject, so let's abandon it. ABANDON IT!!! NO!! I say double-down on it!!! It's an important subject... and SHOULD be part of EVERY high school graduate's capabilities...
What's next? Not study English, because so many students can't write a complete sentence????
Dan Slosek
Cape Coral, FL 33904
In no way shape or form can teaching algebra cause harm for a student. Not teaching algebra or any other basic subject only acts to promote ignorance which isn't beneficial to anyone over the course of their lifetime.
Yes, Basic Algebra should be required of all students. Granted I use it everyday in my profession as a Clinical Pharmacist in a hospital, but like others here have said, I use it in my everyday mundane chores. I like to refer to Algebra as ratio:proportion. I think just knowing the basics is plenty, though. As advanced/linear Algebra and then on to Calculus should be for those who know that they will be needing a more advanced understanding.
Is poetry necessary? I never used it at my scientist job but was forced to learn it in various English classes.
Is Shakespeare necessary? I never used it at work and nobody every talked to me that way. Same with Milton and Spenser.
Is phys ed needed? Gym class makes awkward kids feel inadequate. And, we have cars to move us around and pills to lower our blood pressure and cholesterol.
Is science class needed? Hardly anyone uses general science, biology, chemistry, physics or earth science in their non-science jobs.
Is foreign language class necessary? We have Google translate and the only time I ever needed the Spanish I studied in high school was when I tried to hit on a Puerto Rican hottie. She told be to speak English.
Why teach anything except reading? There are books to teach you anything you want to or need to learn.
End of sarcasm.
Not only obscure skills like "stock analyst" use algebra. Try converting a recipe to half, double, or feed 50 without using algebra. In buying construction materials algebra will help you calculate your expenses, your quantities.
The guest does not seem to quote studies to back his statistical statements?
The mode of delivery may possibly be to blame for "scaring" students away from math. As in this conversation, algebra is sometimes painted as a multi-headed demon, to be feared or mastered. Algebra can be taught as a natural progression of mathematics. We learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. All of these math functions do use a variable, as in " ...=X" The natural progression is to move the X, add another unknown, combine the unknowns with the knowns and figure out your situation.
I love science and math. I excelled in these courses in Highschool, often making the highest grades in the class. However, I struggled with language arts and writing. My lowest grades were always in courses associated with language arts or writing. Because I clearly had a talent for mathematics and science, should I have been allowed to take the language arts and writing courses as electives?
YES! Excellent point, Reverand Jackman. Logic. That is the key to critical thinking. Thank you, sir.
Mr Hacker invalidated his entire premise in his first statement, he has no factual evidence that students drop out because of Algebra. He only offers his statement that he knows this from "talking to teachers". He then has the gaul to ask for "any evidence" that algebra makes anyone a better person.
I think the value of algebra is in the "process", not necessarily in getting a correct answer. It's a method of training the brain to function in a logical and systematic way. Paying attention to detail and multi-tasking are the pearls you will glean. Sure, not everyone is an Einstein! But how ironic that Einstein failed school math too! In life, the important thing is to find your strengths and hone them. Unfortunately, most young folks have no idea what they are going to do with their lives or livelihood. Best to expose them to as many subjects as possible during their "school" years so they can find their strengths. Of course, once we identify a person as weak in a subject like "algebra", what are we doing to re-direct them to a path that is more in line with their actual strengths? Artists, writers, poets, etc.? Or do we just call them stupid for not being able to do math?
This topic has me all riled up. I was an excellent student, did my homework, studied hard but absolutely could not get Algebra. I failed it every year from 7th grade to 11th grade. I had good, patient teachers and tutors and finally managed to pass it to graduate from high school (meanwhile scoring a perfect ACT score on the language arts portion of the test). In college, I tried again and finally switched to a Bachelor of Arts (no math required) and stayed in school an extra year to get language credits instead.
I am obviously a mathematical idiot and I blame nobody. BUT it angers me that all that time I was not learning useful math. In my job today, I need to be able to calculate cost, profit, margin etc. and had to learn that on the fly.
I could have used all that wasted time to learn useful math instead.
I would have been much better off spending the time learning to balance my checkbook.
And by the way...if Algebra is useful to me in my daily life, I have no idea. So maybe it is correct that it is being taught all wrong.
As a student of the International Baccalaureat system we had a perfect solution to "difficult" subjects: we were allowed to take subjects at "higher" level and "subsidiary" level. It was my salvation for passing Math!
I have a B.S. in Engineering, surviving math through differential calculus. In twenty years of studying mathematics I took two courses that actually taught critical thinking: Geometry & Vector Calculus. The rest were a matter of rote. The problem is not that algebra as a subject does not help foster critical thinking, but the vast majority of math teachers are incapable of doing more than grading tests based on rote.
In his Principa Mathematica, Bertrand Russel earned a Nobel for showing that all mathematics through calculus reduces to operations on fractions. q.e.d., we can show quite a bit of mathematical reasoning by teaching the application and analysis of fractions.
Example: I helped one student understand algebra by showing them how to use "b" for "boys" and "g" for "girls" in their how-many-people-at-a-party question. The flunked the test because the teacher said that the only acceptable variables were "x" and "y". When pressed, the teacher couldn't explain why Isaac Newton should flunk for using "f=ma" as the basic equation for modern physics, but still wouldn't change the test grade.
The only conclusion I can draw is that with the possible exceptions of excellent teachers or students bound for science and engineering, probably most students would be better of with "advanced numeracy" separate from Linear Algebra as preparation for living in a numerate society.
In Elementary school math had always been a challenge for me. It wasn't until I took Algebra in the 8th grade that I began to understand math. I went on to take Calculus and advanced math in college for fun. I believe that Algebra did help me to think about problems in an organized matter. It absolutely enhanced my critical thinking skills and helped me have a more organized mind. Now the Algebra that my 7th and 8th grader children are taking is far more advanced than the one that I took. I agree that Algebra is a crucial subject that everyone needs to take but it does not need to be such an advanced and accelerated subject as is being taught today in the Middle School level. Eliminating a subject just because it is hard is silly. There are many people who have problem with writing essays or memorized historical facts but I think it would be absurd to eliminate these courses because it is hard.
Would we say "Johhny is having trouble with ABCs, he shouldn't have to learn them because it's hard for him?" Because a course is difficult is not a reason to drop it.
The broader question is why _any_ particular course should be part of a required curriculum. Some will do well and others not at any particular course. That said, every class should be evaluated as to the benefits. Perhaps we change middle- and high-school curricula to have more choice and fewer requirements.