Well, go get yourn li’l self a job that requires it. :)
I had nine years of Latin. Never used it once, or had a job that required it. :)
My claim is that the way algebra is *taught* is wrong and not conducive to students of any form.
We were taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame, that Algebra followed *rules*. If you followed certain formulas, you would always get the right answer.
When my boys [New Math victims] were in middle school, and had Algebra, I told their math teachers They would be using the *nun method* for solving their homework....and when they *showed* their work, their homework was always correct. Teachers confessed their amazement to me. Symmetry. Algebra was fun and survivable. :)
http://themathpage.com/alg/rules-of-algebra.htm#symmetry
The problem is that ALL math in school is being taught wrong. The schoolbook publishers want to use the last fad techniques (New Math, Common Core etc) rather than normal, proven methods. Even the teachers don't understand algebra. I had a terrible algebra teacher in high school and it held me back academically.
I will agree it’s taught poorly today.
Thank you very much for the link!!
My 14 year old is starting this..