Posted on 07/22/2017 5:15:30 PM PDT by grundle
The chancellor of the California community college system has stated that institutions’ algebra requirements are “the biggest barrier” for “underemployed or unemployed Americans,” and as such is … a civil rights issue.
According to NPR, Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley is “among a growing number of educators who view intermediate algebra as an obstacle to students obtaining their credentials — particularly in fields that require no higher level math skills.”
In an interview with the chancellor, NPR’s Robert Siegel pointed out the low graduation rate in the community college system (48% for an associate’s degree), and then asked Oakley if ditching algebra wasn’t just the “easy way out.”
Oakley retorted “I hear that a lot and unfortunately nothing could be farther from the truth. Somewhere along the lines, since the 1950s, we decided that the only measure of a student’s ability to reason or to do some sort of quantitative measure is algebra.
“What we’re saying is we want as rigorous a course as possible to determine a student’s ability to succeed, but it should be relevant to their course of study. There are other math courses that we could introduce that tell us a lot more about our students.”
From the interview:
[Q]: Bob Moses , the civil rights activist, started the Algebra Project, teaching concepts of algebra to black students in the South. He saw the teaching of math as a continuation of the civil rights struggle.
Rates of failure in algebra are higher for minority groups than they are for white students. Why do you think that is? Do you think a different curriculum would have less disparate results by ethnic or racial group?
[A]: First of all, we’ve seen in the data from many of the pilots across the country that are using alternative math pathways — that are just as rigorous as an algebra course — we’ve seen much greater success for students because many of these students can relate to these different kinds of math depending on which program of study they’re in. They can see how it works in their daily life and how it’s going to work in their career. …
[Q]: Do you risk a negative form of tracking? Depriving a student of the possibility of saying in community college: “Wow, that quadratic equation is the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen. I think I’m going to do more stuff like this.”
[A]: We’re certainly not saying that we’re going to commit students to lower levels of math or different kinds of math. What we’re saying is we want more students to have math skills that allow them to keep moving forward. We want to build bridges between the kinds of math pathways we’re talking about that will allow them to continue into STEM majors. We don’t want to limit students.
The last thing I’d say is that we are already tracking students. We are already relegating students to a life of below livable wage standards. So we’ve already done so, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Here’s a good debate on the merits of taking algebra, and this site provides good examples of when you use algebra … and don’t even realize it.
“Algebra is, or used to be, a high school course.
That must be one heckuva real “high achiever” college.”
Algebra is a freshman high school course.
But a lot of kids take it in 8th grade.
Some take it in tenth.
Right - you’ve got it now. Doing the algebra you learned doesn’t mean you are sitting down writing “x” on a paper and solving for it...you are doing it in your head to figure out all sorts of things because you learned it and it is a part of you. You aren’t going to stop and think “I’m using what I learned in so and so’s class!” whenever you just use something you learned - for example, when you started typing your replies here, you just did it - you didn’t harken back and think of how and when you learned the alphabet, how to type, etc.
Not surprising that people who use no logic or reasoning would not see the value in a discipline that requires logic and reasoning.
I mean, can’t we all just drive Escalades and live in nice houses for free, you know, without actually having to pay for anything?
My guess is that he would strongly agree.
Replace it as a required subject with something they might use after graduation. Another Language would/could be helpful.
“By “minorities” are we talking exclusively about American blacks? Because I’m pretty sure the rest of the “minorities” are doing just fine in algebra.”
It’s California. Probably more Hispanics than blacks, at an absolute count.
But other minority groups have no problem.
Algebra is good stuff for the brain I was lousy at problem solving but my son hits it out of the park.
they should keep Algebra and deport IA’s problem solved!
How have you never used algebra? I use algebra nearly on a daily basis. Most real-world, daily math problems are algebraic.
A waste of time? Did you forget the sarcasm tag?
As we more rapidly circle the bowl all standards must be lowered. But let us be honest. “Minorities” do not have difficulty with Algebra. The very name come from a “minority” group. Are Asians a minority group? Do they have trouble with math? A large number for the computer wizards we see in TV dramas are black. How did they get there without math skills? OH, I may be confusing reality with fantasy. Apparently that is a common problem. Many PhDs are borderline illiterate. But most of their degrees are in education. Listen to the voice of Asia: Lee25 - “algebra is a workout on mind.” 30 million Chinese are studying classical piano. They will be strict masters.
And just because one person doesn’t use it doesn’t mean it is not not beneficial to their life. Someone had to understand math to invent/produce almost everything we use in our life.
X=16y
2x=?
Math should be introduced much earlier and much more rigorously from now on to all American students. So-called minorities suffer in life from the lack of discipline in this area.
Ain’t nuthin wrong with their brains. Really.
So how much longer are we going to put up with this racist nonsense?
If you ever use logic then you are using the part of the brain that algebra trains.
If you don’t use logic then you’re probably not happy on this site.
““What we’re saying is we want as rigorous a course as possible to determine a student’s ability to succeed, but it should be relevant to their course of study. There are other math courses that we could introduce that tell us a lot more about our students.””
Let me guess. They want to test them on black studies and lower the grade to pass.
Then go to technical school.
You'll make more in the trades than in any degree program that doesn't require multiple math and science courses.
I agree with the first statement. However, math is very important for trades such as carpentry, electrical and plumbing. Very useful for figuring out how many bags of concrete are needed, useful for figuring out how many of each type of boards to get for building a deck, fence or other project. Especially if you're working with complex angles. A couple mistakes here and there will cost you big in lost materials and time.
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