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posted by n1 on Saturday July 22 2017, @04:22PM   Printer-friendly
from the math-is-hard dept.

Algebra is one of the biggest hurdles to getting a high school or college degree — particularly for students of color and first-generation undergrads.

It is also the single most failed course in community colleges across the country. So if you're not a STEM major (science, technology, engineering, math), why even study algebra?

That's the argument Eloy Ortiz Oakley, chancellor of the California community college system, made today in an interview with NPR's Robert Siegel.

At American community colleges, 60 percent of those enrolled are required to take at least one math course. Most — nearly 80 percent — never complete that requirement.

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.

Their thinking has led to initiatives like Community College Pathways, which strays away from abstract algebra to engage students in real-world math applications.

-- submitted from IRC


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @05:52PM (6 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @05:52PM (#542992)

    Idiot millennial born in the 80's here... this separation in maths education is already made in some places...

    When I went to secondary school (in the Netherlands) they split maths in 2 groups after the second year: alpha maths (containing statistics and chance calculations) and beta maths (with algebra, charting, logarithms and derivatives). You were obliged to take Dutch, English and at least one maths class, but... choosing physics, biology or chemistry required you to have the beta maths. I went with the beta courses, and only had my first statistics lessons when going to university (studying biology).

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @05:59PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @05:59PM (#542996)

    and?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @06:02PM (4 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @06:02PM (#543000)

      Idiot Americans aren't obliged to study any language except English.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @06:09PM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @06:09PM (#543006)

        So your saying I should have to study Dutch to study Biology, OK it make about as much sense as studying algebra in isolation I'm sure that will lead to good results. even HUUUGGEE results

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @10:26PM (2 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @10:26PM (#543126)

          So your saying I should have to study Dutch to study Biology,

          I dunno, what are you saying, as in "you are saying", or contracted to "you're saying"? Maybe you should have to study English to complain about having to study Dutch in order to study Biology and learn maths.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @11:00PM (1 child)

            by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @11:00PM (#543146)

            Nice deflection but since you clearly understood me, perhaps you should study the history of English and answer my question before you embark on that clearly necessary and years long task

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 23 2017, @09:15AM

              by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 23 2017, @09:15AM (#543313)

              No, I did not understand what you were saying, because you are too stupid to spell what I can only assume is your native tongue. Your sayings are not my sayings, and evidently you completely undermined the point you were making by being too stupid to spell. This will not end will for you. And it sets a fine president for others, for all intensive purposes. I hope you can get a new leash on life. I lack toast and I'm tolerant.