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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: 2) by bradley13 on Saturday July 22 2017, @07:20PM (2 children)

    by bradley13 (3053) on Saturday July 22 2017, @07:20PM (#543051) Homepage Journal

    Who said anything about keeping them out of the job market? I said "go into the trades". What is the point of removing everything difficult from a high school diploma? When everyone can get one, regardless of ability, it becomes worthless.

    Of course, in the US that has already happened, and y'all are now doing the same thing to college.

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  • (Score: 4, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Saturday July 22 2017, @09:25PM (1 child)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Saturday July 22 2017, @09:25PM (#543095)

    Whoever named the Bachelor of Science degree was really prescient with the initials B.S. So many colleges and universities consider their students to be paying clients, and the customers get at least a C if they show up and don't cause too much trouble, regardless of whether they demonstrate any actual understanding of the subjects being taught.

    Source: taught a senior level engineering at a private university for two years, tried to fail my students who simply didn't demonstrate ANY understanding of the material, was given a directive from the Dean's office more or less stating the above.

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    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @10:00PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 22 2017, @10:00PM (#543119)

      This is why degrees can't be taken seriously. It's not just the K-12 system that is broken; so many people view education as job training and want a degree without even understanding any of the subjects, and then waste all of their time partying. If our colleges and univerities were actually decent, we'd be kicking such people out so they don't poison the academic environment.