C.M. Kornbluth was ahead of his time...
Posted on 03/10/2016 8:46:15 AM PST by Academiadotorg
A professor found an easier way to study math. Unfortunately, he’s a political scientist.
"I propose an alternative to mathematics, what I call numerical literacy, or for lack of a better phrase, adult arithmetic," Andrew Hacker, a professor emeritus of political science at Queens College said in an interview with the Chronicle of Higher Education. "It's the kind of thing you need to make sense of everything from corporate reports to the federal budget, or to decide whether it's better to buy or lease a car."
"Despite the fact that nearly every young American is made to take algebra and geometry, we rank very low in international rankings of numerical literacy." Speaking of numbers, Hacker is somewhat inconsistent on his. An earlier quote from the same interview seems to belie the "nearly every" assertion.
"Right now, four million American teenagers are in a class studying algebra," he said. "I'm simply asking a question: why?"
Well, in order to answer that question, he might want to compare the "numerical literacy" of earlier generations of high school graduates who were "made to take algebra and geometry" with latter ones who were not.
But if he does succeed in freeing millions from having to do so, he can do a follow-up study on what their math grades really mean.
Nothing against “practical math”. You don’t need to learn parseval’s theorem to be a productive person. That doesn’t negate the value of parseval’s theorem, or practical math.
“Why” is a good question. I had many occasions in my working life to use algebra, but never once was geometry of any benefit.
Well, there’s no arguing with your reasoning.
Now you’re changing the subject. You’ve gone from “shop math” to “practical math”, etc., neither of which are adequate descriptions of what is involved in creating, reading and comprehending a 21st Century blueprint, the interconnected usages of the information therein and the integration of the processes required to competitively manufacture a high-quality product profitably.
thank you very little.
Therein lies the greatest obstacle to improving education in America. Achievement is racism.
I still don’t believe you need high school algebra to read or even generate engineering drawing. If you do, the drawing has failed in its purpose. I know technicians who can follow microwave circuit diagrams or equally intricate drawing who do not know the quadratic formula.
C.M. Kornbluth was ahead of his time...
We need to get out the word
that voting is acting white.
Geometry is actually logic.
How to prove something, given an assumption or already proven ‘theorums’.
Like I said before- You haven’t seen very many engineering drawings lately. If you can apply dimension and tolerance information and data to drawing views and sections, etc. correctly (end item> major assemblies> sub-assemblies> parts & details) AND extrapolate that information correctly, you’ve got more than just a HS education...a LOT more. Plus, your knowledge of Geometry would be extensive enough to be able to conceive and develop the same parts and assemblies’ geometries in solid modeling 3D CAD. There are very powerful CAD applications being used today such as Siemens NX, CATIA (originally by Dassault Systems) and Pro-Engineer by PTC. These three CAD/CAM/CAE applications are used extensively by designers, drafters and engineers; mostly in the automotive, aeronautical, aerospace and aviation industries. An HS education will get you only so far in that line of work. However, if somebody is lucky enough to start low on the ladder, corporate training might be a possibility. One must understand the technical terms involved and a glossary might also be helpful to a “Rookie”.
“These three CAD/CAM/CAE applications are used extensively by designers, drafters and engineers; mostly in the automotive, aeronautical, aerospace and aviation industries.”
Add to that the many defense contractors whose business is other than aeronautical, aerospace or aviation industry-specific.
True, but there it is.
Or maybe they will find viable work in the contracting field. Which would allow them to (a) contribute more to society than a poly sci teacher and (b) make more money too.
OK.
I am not arguing against learning geometry.
We all have about 60 useful years.
For those of us here in the U.S., we are taught algebra and geometry somewhere around our 14th or 15th year. This is at the very start of our 60 useful years.
Human brains do not all develop at the same rate. Some people whose brain is not ready for algebra at 14 years may be ready for it at 20 years.
What happens to them?
They fail algebra.
How do they deal with that?
Well, Algebra must be important because everyone has to learn it, so there must be something wrong with them. Perhaps the only thing wrong is they need a few more years for their brain to develop. Maybe they need a better teacher.
The point is that they are bad for not learning algebra.
This is fine for people whose brain leans towards algebra. They have the advantage.
But what sort of advantage do they have?
Algebra made them better parents? Algebra made them better workers? Algebra made them better human beings?
Nope.
The discipline in learning algebra helped them.
Would the discipline in learning to play the piano help them? Yes.
Would the discipline of practicing basketball help them? Yes.
Would the discipline of writing help them? Yes.
In this country, we take our young people and force them to study a subject that we hope will make them good people when they are perhaps not physically prepared to learn it. And then we saddle them with teachers who may not be able to teach them.
It is the tyranny of the majority over the minority. Perhaps that can not be changed.
But, we have a lot of people who are “checking out” of algebra and geometry and calculus and then checking out of education.
I think it is worth some effort to see if we can find a way to improve more minds.
Yes.
And that is how Louis Armstrong would talk about jazz.
That is how Peyton Manning would talk about football.
That is how Einstein would talk about physics.
But we don’t force kids to study jazz or football or physics.
Our teaching of algebra and geometry deserve some examination.
Not arguing either, well not very hard.
Algebra gives practice at math, calculations, bank balance, EBT balance, even to calculate “ majority over the minority” as you mention.
To question poll numbers, statistics, etc.
My gripe is that math these days focuses on ‘theory’ and ‘why’, with little practice, early in the ed process.
I had to do pages of rote memory based times tables, long division, etc.
That made me competent in general math ability, then when I got Math theory, I could appreciate the ‘why’.
Algebra I. Take the class. Learn the lingo and terms. You will know what you don’t know if nothing else. Then you can hunt it down later.
To Quote Barbie: “Math is Hard.”
But I’ll bet they can solve for the unknown in a simple addition/subtraction situation, or even a fraction/ratio problem.
All true.
Someone is voting for the Democrats.
Why?
Because it’s easy.
They don’t have to think.
Where did they learn to behave that way?
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