No more algebra?

[Blue2010]

I heard this on Mike & Mike (of all places) this morning that this is legitimately a possibility because this subject is being linked to the higher rate of failure in high school? I'm almost speechless here. I this truly that hard:?

x + 6 = 10
x = 10 - 6
x = 4

On the most subliminal of levels, this teaches basic problem solving skills.

We're truly a nation of p*ssies. smh

 

[coolwaterunc]

Algebra was my favorite in school; I've always found it to be fun. I fully believe it's a great tool to help build the foundation for good logical thinking skills down the road. I write a lot of code at work, and I look back at all the Math I did like Algebra in high school, and I can see why I'm so good at it today. Huge mistake to get rid of it, if that's true. But then again, kids these days are spoiled to the point where they don't have to do anything for themselves anyway, so I'm not shocked.

 

[Blue2010]

100% agree.

 

[tarheel0910]

Got to have more time to bash America and religion. Plus we don't want anyone's feelings to get hurt if they get a wrong answer.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

I find that extremely hard to believe. Has anybody actually looked to see if there's any basis in fact?

Edit: Ok, so it appears this media topic over the last couple of days basically goes back to an opinion piece written by one professor at Queens College in NY. As far as I can tell there's no actual move toward removing algebra from the curriculum.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

When they tell you "you will use this later in life, I promise," it's true.

I'm in a line of work that has nothing to do with advanced mathematics, and I use algebra (specifically in ratios and proportions) almost every day.

 

[Blue2010]

I find that extremely hard to believe. Has anybody actually looked to see if there's any basis in fact?

Edit: Ok, so it appears this media topic over the last couple of days basically goes back to an opinion piece written by one professor at Queens College in NY. As far as I can tell there's no actual move toward removing algebra from the curriculum.

This was what they were referencing on the radio this morning. But the fact that this would even be brought up is crazy to me.

 

[strummingram]

If I use algebra in my life now, or if I ever used it even one day since I managed to pass Algebra II, then I'm not aware of it. I absolutely abhorred Algebra. I think the name alone scared me as a young kid when I'd hear about my older cousins taking it. The name sounded difficult and foreign. I sucked at it. Now, the example in the OP is pretty simple.

But, just because it's a fairly difficult subject for most, or some, is certainly no reason to remove it from the curriculum. A challenge is GOOD! Some people excel in other applications of brain function. Algebra is awesome... for those that understand it. Not to mention the advancements it has contributed to.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Wow. Gotta love the reasoning they give for wanting to take it out (if the OP is true). "It's contributing to the higher rate of failure in high school" So, kids aren't grasping it right away, so rather than teach them - just remove it from the curriculum! Newsflash: All courses that not 100% of kids pass are contributing to the failure rate. Guess what.... if we just remove the entire curriculum - we can get the failure rate down to 0% - I guarantee it! Granted, no one would learn anything, but at least then we can claim 100% pass rate and no one's feelings would get hurt.

 

[Blue2010]

Wow. Gotta love the reasoning they give for wanting to take it out (if the OP is true). "It's contributing to the higher rate of failure in high school" So, kids aren't grasping it right away, so rather than teach them - just remove it from the curriculum! Newsflash: All courses that not 100% of kids pass are contributing to the failure rate. Guess what.... if we just remove the entire curriculum - we can get the failure rate down to 0% - I guarantee it! Granted, no one would learn anything, but at least then we can claim 100% pass rate and no one's feelings would get hurt.

From what I understand, the rationale behind it is that 1 out of 5 kids are flunking out of high school, and it's being linked that the majority of those dropouts happened after failing 9th grade Algebra.

So, rather than placing more emphasis on getting better at something, let's just quit. F*** it. (shrugs shoulders)

FWIW, maybe I'm biased b/c I usually pissed off my teachers. I never showed my work on any of my math exams from elementary school through graduating high school. I was accused of cheating so many times it isn't funny and had to retake exams in a room by myself to prove it. I'd be the only one in the class to get a 100 on exams, never show my work, and finish in half the time as the other kids. I never understood why I had to show the teacher how I got my answers if I was that confident in them being correct.

On the flip side though, I royally SUCKED at English and History. In hindsight, I think I had some level of ADHD or something...to this day, I can't read 5 pages in a book without completely losing focus and can't stay on track with it, so memorizing crap just wasn't gonna happen.