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
Please familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct and Terms of Use before posting your comments.
The point to teaching algebra in school isn't simply to teach kids to solve for X. It is also to encourage the neurons in a developing mind to reach out and connect with other neurons.
Lots of confusion and illogical arguments on the show today. I've been teaching high school math for eleven years now. I was a computer engineer for seven years before that. Here's a list of what of what annoyed me while listening:
1. On the show people said we should take math because it is "all around us". This is incorrect reasoning. Quantum mechanics is also all around us. The mere presence of a discipline does not necessitate its study to be a functional human being.
2. On the show people said algebra gets used all the time - even in cooking and shopping. This is incorrect. Arithmetic gets used all the time. Percents get used all the time. But when was the last time you solved the linear equation modeling two cell phone plans to see at what minute-count their monthly bills were equal? THAT'S algebra. Almost no one uses algebra. Though it is a very powerful way to model the real world, the fact is that we don't often need to do this.
3. On the show people said removing algebra would result in a dumbing down of the curriculum. This argument suffers from a lack of imagination. Leaving out higher math of one type means you can replace it with math of another type. The good professor had it exactly right - which develops better critical thinking and problem solving skills: 1) Solving a highly constrained problem about quadratic factoring, or 2) using 8th grade level math (at most) to deduce which health care plan costs more?
To be cont'd.....
4. On the show people said teenagers should be taught algebra because they themselves regretted not having it/understanding it as teenagers. This is using a specific case to attempt to prove a general point - an incorrect reasoning strategy. Professor Hacker had it right: 95% of the jobs out there do not require algebra (see Michael Shmoker's book "Focus" to see studies that back this up). Should we make 100% of the students take a set of courses which will only be useful to 5% of them?
5. On the show people said algebra teaches students critical thinking skills. This may be correct, depending on how the math is taught. If it's taught as a set of disconnected algorithms, forget it. If it's done using Polya's problem solving strategies, well, maybe. But in general, expertise in one area does not give you expertise in another. Grandmasters in chess are fantastic at chess, but this does not guarantee they will be fantastic at analyzing the federal budget, even though both activities require logic and problem solving. If anything, traditional math teaching may jeopardize problem solving ability. How many real-life problems come with the problem well-defined, with just the numbers you need and no more, with one path to the only solution possible?
6. Which brings me to my wife (an anecdotal proof, I admit). I have 30 or so credit-hours of undergraduate math under my belt. She took a logic class. I excelled in my high school math classes, she doesn't remember if she even took trigonometry. She ended up with a degree in history. If the theory that math creates better critical thinking is valid, I ought to completely dominate her in this regard. Alas, I lose as many arguments as I win. To argue with her about politics or how we should parent is to basically ensure my defeat. Being a history major - it turns out they get thinking skills too!
Michael Hayashida
I teach college algebra. I, in essance, am the gate keeper and hold the key to whether these students will move thru my fortress and graduate from college. My drop/fail rate is around 40% and that is below, from what I understand, the national average. Think about that ... over 4 out of ten fail. I am not a math geek, but think I have a rather bright math mind. I almost fell off my chair laughing/crying when one of the supportive arguments for taking algebra is figuing out your mortgage --- I think you could take 100 algebra teachers and have them do this by themselves and 80 would not know how to --- but you are saying that some person who takes algebra as a college freshman will remember these `skills` 20 years later? No way.
Is basic math very important to live in the real world - absolutely - but are 80% of the concepts and skills required to pass a college algebra class necessary - no, no, no.
We are keeping many bright and talented students from pursuing their dreams and graduating from college. All, I believe, in making sure we cover our butts and secure positions as math professors and keep our math departments strong. Finally, I believe if we gave every college algebra prof in the country a truth pill and they had to tell you what they really thought you would be astonished at the number who think ``why are we forcing these kids to go thru this hellish subject``.
The essence of dumbing-down in American education is the conflation of education with training. School is all about training people in skills for jobs, says dumb America. Mr. Hacker has a de-humanizing view of education. "Most people don't use algebra in their job, and any other skills gotten from learning algebra can be gotten elsewhere". That's not how human beings work. When I am designing a software program, I might get an insight from something I read in "Of Mice and Men". When I am painting a picture of a butterfly, I might get an insight from calculus. Humans benefit from a broad education, and educators used to know that when they defined broad curricula.
Some of us with post graduate degrees and careers based on the education we've received, have no need to read a spreadsheet. I, for one, never learned a thing through two years of high school algebra, and an incomplete semester of college algebra, except that I wanted nothing to do with algebra. And yet, nothing can convince me that my critical thinking skills are in any way impaired by my lack of comprehension in this field.
What was impaired was my GPA, which offends me because I am, by all accounts, an intelligent, thoughful, aware person. Yet, I could never achieve a 4.0 because I was forced to study a field in which I had neither skill nor interest. And I consider myself living proof that not everyone needs algebra.
Yes, people like me may always need assistance to deal with statistics arrived at through algebraic algorithms, but I know plenty of people who need my assistance with various concepts that their scientific/algebraic education did not prepare them to understand. We live, after all, in an interdependent society, which assumes the input of persons with varying skills and talents.
Might I add, education in this country might be better served if we concerned ourselves with exposing students to all fields and concepts, and were less concerned with "grading" them. We make "getting an A" the be all and end all of education, and so deprive students of the simple joy of learning.
Diane,
I'm sorry but I believe all of you are missing the point here. Algebra can be a very good thing or a bad thing for Americans. We shouldn't abolish it because students think its hard. Allowing them a pass on any subject they deem difficult is not how our education system should operate. We should challange students every day. Critical thinking and problem solving should be instilled in every child from their very first day of school. I have always believed there is a solution to every problem. Not mathmatically just in general. Sometimes the solution isn't always what we would like it to be but there is a solution. Most people commenting on this topic are biased. Those who are good at algebra or use it regularly will say its fantastic and those that don't use it or think its hard will say its useless. Several of the examples of algebra listed in these comments shocks me. Seriously, if you can't figure how much to tip a waitress or have to use a tip calculator to do so you have more problems than just algeba. Maybe they should just stay home instead of dining out.
Next, I will post additional comments to show my point
My issue with algebra is that it takes away more than it provides. American education is a sad case but whats even worse is the American society as a whole. We should focus our efforts on what is necessary in 2012 to get our country back on track. I will not go into a political rant or choose between the two parties to show you what I mean. I will give you one example and if you wish you may take it further. 30% of Americans today are obese and the numbers continue to rise every year. Health care costs attributed to obesity costs 190.2 billion a year as of 2012. Our federal deficit is 1.1 trillion dollars. Now you guys figure up how many years it will take to pay that deficit off. Its not about money though its about our people. Now, in your honest opinion do our kids today need to know how to solve for X or learn to live a healthy lifestyle. For me I think a little extra gym time would benefit our country better than students sitting in a class wondering how they can squirm out of doing their algeba homework. Many other issues we could add to this but this is a start. Thank you all for taking the time to read this. Would love to here your thoughts.
"Cold logic" is incredibly important to the development of a mind. You need it to balance out your "gut" feelings when making huge decisions, like taking out loans and so much else in life.
I think the caller who expressed feeling she lacks in math skills should take some math courses. My husband hated math in high school, but worked hard then to pass. He also worked hard to pass calculus as an adult so that he could be accepted into his chosen graduate school program.
What else do high school students have to do with their time anyway? I'd prefer they had a longer school year.
Lastly, as far as decision making goes, students should be required to take life skills courses in which they learn personal finance and budgeting, the basics of how to run an independent business, how all types of loans work, how investing works, and how to weigh pros and cons before making decisions. ALL things I wish I had learned in either high school or college.