Is algebra an unnecessary stumbling block in U.S. schools?
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this March 25, 2016 photo, Isaiah Aristy poses for a portrait in New York. A new book says algebra has become an unnecessary stumbling block thats forcing millions of American students to drop out of high school or college. Aristy took the algebra Regents test twice and failed it both times. Aristy, now a freshman at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, said he was good at math until he hit algebra.
NEW YORK >> Who needs algebra?
That question muttered by many a frustrated student over the years has become a vigorous debate among American educators, sparked by a provocative new book that argues required algebra has become an unnecessary stumbling block that forces millions to drop out of high school or college.
“One out of 5 young Americans does not graduate from high school. This is one of the worst records in the developed world. Why? The chief academic reason is they failed ninth-grade algebra,” said political scientist Andrew Hacker, author of “The Math Myth and Other STEM Delusions.”
Hacker, a professor emeritus at Queens College, argues that, at most, only 5 percent of jobs make use of algebra and other advanced math courses. He favors a curriculum that focuses more on statistics and basic numbers sense and less on (y – 3)2 = 4y – 12.
“Will algebra help you understand the federal budget?” he asked.
Many U.S. educators, including the architects of the Common Core standards, disagree, saying math just needs to be taught more effectively. It’s fine for students to have quantitative skills, they say, but algebra is important, too.
“Every study I’ve ever seen of workers in whole bunches of fields shows that you have to understand formulas, you have to understand relationships,” said Philip Uri Treisman, a professor of mathematics and of public affairs at the University of Texas. “Algebra is the tool for consolidating your knowledge of arithmetic.”
Bill McCallum, a professor at the University of Arizona who played a lead role in developing the Common Core standards for math, said he would oppose any division of K-12 students into an algebra track and a non-algebra track.
“You might say only a certain percentage of kids will go on to use algebra, but we don’t know which kids those are,” he said.
In New York City, home to the nation’s largest public school system with 1.1 million pupils, just 52 percent of the students who took last year’s statewide Regents test in Algebra I passed, mirroring statistics elsewhere in the country.
Rather than scaling back on algebra, New York City educators have announced an “Algebra for All” initiative that aims to keep students on track by providing specialized math teachers in fifth grade, before algebra is introduced.
“We believe in high standards,” said Carol Mosesson-Teig, director of mathematics for the city Department of Education. “And we believe that the best way to serve the students is to strengthen the instruction.”
Eighteen-year-old Isaiah Aristy took the algebra Regents test twice and failed it both times.
Aristy, now a freshman at the Borough of Manhattan Community College who is hoping for a career in law enforcement, said he was good at math until he hit algebra.
“When it came to x and y and graphing, that’s when I started dropping, and it made me feel low,” he said. “But we don’t need to learn what x and y is. When in life are we going to write on paper, ‘X and y needs to be this?’”
Like millions of community college students across the U.S., Aristy must pass a remedial math class with no college credit, and then pass at least one college-level math class, if he wants to get an associate’s degree.
But Aristy isn’t just repeating Algebra I again. BMCC is one of about 50 community colleges in 14 state that offer an alternative track called Quantway, developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, that seeks to develop quantitative literacy.
“It includes some basic algebra concepts, but you don’t learn how to factor polynomials or solve complex equations,” said math department Chairman Fred Peskoff.
Project director Karon Klipple said the foundation devised Quantway and a statistics track called Statway in 2011 because of the sheer numbers of students dropping out of community college due to algebra. Sixty to 80 percent of community college students nationwide test into remedial math, and most don’t pass it, she said.
“This is where their hopes and aspirations go to die,” Klipple said. “They’re in college to try to make a better life for themselves, and they’re stopped by mathematics.”
48 responses to “Is algebra an unnecessary stumbling block in U.S. schools?”
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It took until 2016 for someone to get up the courage to say this???
What needs to be done is to offer two alternatives from middle school thru high school, white collar and blue collar tracks. It is unrealistic to think that all students will go to college. Every occupation may it be blue collar or white collar is important in society. As a matter of fact, some blue collar jobs will pay a lot more than some white collar jobs…..do not force all students to do what they were not destined to do. If so, students will be setup for failure.
I SURELY HOPE THAT THE BOE, SUPERINTENDENT, COMPLEX AREA SUPT.,DISTRICT/STATE ED CURRICULUM SPECIALIST, PRINCIPALS AND LEGISLATORS ARE READING THIS ARTICLE AS WELL AS THESE COMMENTS!!!
I hope so too… But, I’m sure for different reasons than you.
roxie – Why are you SHOUTING? Fix your Caps Lock key so you do not look like a rookie poster.
“Tracking” is a HORRIBLE idea. It suggests decision making about individual’s futures being made by teachers and school administrators (a scary thought in general now days, but horrifying once you begin thinking about the ramifications of categorizing children like livestock based on the “keen” observations of one or two people at any given point in time). The emphasis should be on “choice”, with a DE-emphasis on lock step educational advancement. One aspect of all of this is that our educational system has two basic problems. First, someone, somewhere, is making decisions about how things SHOULD proceed in a child’s learning and development, and imposing it rigidly. Essentially, often, too often, pounding square pegs into round holes. Second, educators need to accept the idea that the bar needs to be set according to the abilities and needs of young, developing brains and personalities. NOT the teachers’ and curriculum “developers” aspirations for career advancement and relevancy. The problem there isn’t necessarily “algebra”. The problem is that kindergarten, or 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade teachers feel the need to impose “algebra” upon little kids in order to feel like progressive educators. That unrealistic and unreasonable raising of the bar follows kids throughout their school careers, and is ultimately unproductive. Teach the BASICS first. Then, when and ONLY WHEN the basics are installed, give them a natural choice for going further. And, make it available always. So a Junior in high school finally becomes interested enough to take Algebra 1. So what? Let ’em. Quit putting out the potential white heat of interest in learning by forcing suare pegs into round holes. TEACH.
good points about tracking. Historians of education in Hawaii know that for decades children here were separated into standard English learners and non-standard learners. Different fates awaited both groups which is why many Hawaiian parents never advocated for Hawaiian programs in schools in the Territory. Hawaiian was never banned at all. Read the 1896 Law. It is just that many Hawaiin parents feared the consequences in terms of life chances for their child if he/she did not speak and learn in standard English.
Yes, but those were also the days when those in standard schools got quality education. Now, we are held to the slowest learners in the class. We push kids through the system that should have more in their heads. I’m ok with realizing not everyone is equally gifted. Put another path in to make crossing back to standard schools possible.
agree although the article is not making the same point. It is suggesting that college-bound students may not need algebra as so few will actually use it.
“…were not destined to do??!!” Sure. The sooner these basket cases know their place in the academic and societal hierarchies the better off everyone will be.
This issue is one that Marco Rubio had on his plate. No other candidate has even suggested it. They’re too busy beating each other up. By the way, another important collar is being overlooked, one that puts food in our stomachs. That’s the brown collar.
Why not drop algebra as a requirement for high school graduation? They already dropped any requirement to be able to write a coherent sentence.
Drop algebra agree, coherent sentences maybe just in the USA South.
In other words you’ve never been to the south.
But don’t we use algebra every day? No.
If kids can’t meet the standards, lower them.
Already happened a long time ago because that’s how they interpret no child left behind. How many times have you seen a kid flunk a grade? It’s pretty much unheard of today. Just push them on to the next grade even if they don’t meet the standards.
I took 4 years of Algebra in High School… Algebra I, Algebra I again, Algebra II, and Algebra II again. Thank goodness that a C- was a passing grade. LOL. That was 55 years ago, I’m still waiting to use Algebra in everyday life.
Only time I used algebra in real life is when I had to check my son’s homework. I’m sure there’s a mechanical or electrical engineer out there that may use it more often. Any engineers out there that can attest to that?
While we’re at it, let’s also eliminate physical education as we’re a country of fatties and equal rights ensure no matter how fat and immobile you are, government and private industry must treat you with high respect, and provide you free healthcare, plus handicap parking pass even if the ailment was self-inflicted.
Heh?
No need go to those extremes. Just make the kids do algebra in 3rd grade so that they feel really stupid (except for the few stars equipped to “get it”), and look for ways (like food?) to alleviate the stress.
steveoctober–WOW!! You sound just like TRUMP!! It is so true but, good luck. Algebra, BTW make one think and analyze. However, I think having a college and a vocational avenue to graduate makes sense.
There are a lot of other ways to make children think and analyze problems other than through Algebra. I graduated from a good private school where I learned algebra. I did well at it, and never used it again for the rest of my life. But not once in high school was I ever offered a course in logic, philosophy, or computer programming. Today, I would say I would have much rather have been given classes in those latter subjects instead of algebra. Those are subjects worth knowing for most people today (yes, even programming). Algebra? I can’t remember a single thing about it.
agree with Cory totally.
Every time you write a computer program you are doing algebra.
It is all about variables and substitution.
The semantics of the most basic statement, assignment, is defined using simple algebra.
Perhaps the topics could be updated, but the algebra is important.
Oh, so let’s dumb-down the curriculum to improve High School graduation rates. This is nothing more than shibai from Teachers Unions to take the pressure off of them. We LAG the industrial world in academics, much more than one would expect of a world superpower. Other nations’ youth run circles around us in academics and, yes, that INCLUDES Algebra. I don’t believe Americans are any less intelligent than any other human beings around the world. I believe that the difference is cultural. American youth famously despise school. In the rest of the world, youth embraces education and sees it as the ticket to creating a better life and standard of living. If the rest of the world excels at it then so can we. So stop the whining and complaining, put your nose to the grindstone, and get cracking! A well-rounded education will get you by better than any Cell. Phone, Video game, and Television set ever will.
Never going to happen.
I’d rather see Algebra that Common Core Math… Why take 27 steps to do a math problem that takes only 3? As for Algebra… Hoo Hum… another day and I didn’t use algebra even once. Nuff said.
Algebra is and always has been a pathway to critical thinking…..it’s like an exercise regimen for the mind. The biggest two problems related to understanding Algebra are terrible teachers and students not willing to devote the time necessary to do the homework. Rather, it’s ‘more easy and fun’ to play with their phones, watch cable/satellite TV, or fool around on the internet. The one thing teachers need to explain is how it IS used in everyday life situations. That alone, opens up the eyes to students understanding…..the rest is up to the student to do the necessary work.
Children would be better off learning chess than algebra to develop critical thinking skills.
I would not say better off. Chess is cutthroat competition.
Funny; if ‘we’ can’t pass math, let’s lower the bar. You could do this for other things, e.g. science, social studies, SATs, many college courses, etc. Heck, maybe high school should be 3 years since we don’t ‘need’ all of the courses. Same with college. Cool, eh.
The dumbing down of AmericaL What a country! In some countries there are 13 year-olds doing calculus. Is this how we’re “going to make US great?
Well, you see there’s name recognition. The USA is great because that’s what we are.
I mean, why get an education when you can simply hire one?
I must agree, all you need to know is the basic multiplication, division, and of course adding and subtracting.
Yessir… Let’s just limit education to only that which students will need for whatever career path they choose at the end of sixth grade. Why do K12, when you can do K8?
Only in the USA would someone come up with an idea to improve education by removing subjects.
That was my favorite class; college algebra.
Just to be clear, the following is passive aggressive satire: x, y, and those funny lines are for big political donors and their lobbyists. It’s just too confusing for 99% of Americans, and they would feel much better about themselves if the just watched FOX and listened to NPR. And really, when are you going to have to analyze information for yourself anyway? … http://apps.urban.org/features/wealth-inequality-charts/
I thought this headline was some sort of a joke. This truly represents a new low in America and the our expectations from our students. Do we use Algebra every day? Of course we do. If not the actual math; the critical, logical and disciplined thinking required for life. How about having high expectations of our youth and they will rise to the challenge. The young man that is profiled in the story? First; he was not good at math before Algebra. He was good at arithmetic. Secondly; perhaps if Algebra is too difficult for him; college isn’t for him. Maybe even technical or Vocational school isn’t either. He can put in more effort or he can go protest for $15 minimum wage.
The article fails to mention that US K-12 education in math and science lags behind a lot of other developed nations. The problem solving skills and knowledge associated with math and science are more relevant now than ever. Key policy issues like climate change, income and wealth inequality, healthcare and prescription drug cost, GMO rewards and risks, good paying job creation, global trade, and privacy and encryption can all be much better understood and debated with a healthy knowledge of math and science. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/02/02/u-s-students-improving-slowly-in-math-and-science-but-still-lagging-internationally/
And Easter is better with algebra (and an American computerized egg decorator used by the University of Prague in the Czech Republic) … http://gizmodo.com/these-are-the-trippiest-easter-eggs-youll-see-all-day-1767380108
the simplest answer is that it is used to weed out the incompetent in certain professions.
Make sure kids know how to calculate: If a six-pack of soda costs $3.00, and one can costs $1.25, is it better to spend $3 on a six-pack or just spend $1.25 for one can? You can figure that out without algebra.
If you know Algebra it’s waaaay faster. This is totally an example of how (if you knew Algebra), you can use it in every day life. And you do use Algebra (at least Algebra 1) in every day life.
Frankly, learning math has never been easier with all of these tools you can use everywhere. You can practically google your homework.
First the idea of not taking algebra as a fundamental skill needed in a technical age is taking the US downward in a way it will never recover from. It will mean even fewer resources will be given to training in higher mathematics, engineering and science since not having math will take more students out from ever helping narrow the gap between us and other nations moving ahead of us in science, math, and engineering. Technical jobs now need to be filled with immigrants because their is not enough US born talent– even Donald Trump has acknowledged that we need to bring in scientific and technical talent rhgouth immigration– the “smart ones” he calls them. Second, blue collar jobs as we know them today are disappearing. We are forcing more people below the poverty line because they cannot man the jobs of the future.
Lets take a survey of say 3,000 people who took Algebra in High School and ask them how many use one shred of Algebra either in their job or in every day activities. Want to bet about zero? I had major problems with it, never, ever used any of it.
Sad to say the educational bureaucracy will never, ever, admit one subject is no longer relevant in today’s world as it would prove what we all already know. They are utterly incompetent.
Lets dump Jurassic Algebra and use the time on math we can use every day. As in how to do your own financial management. How to do your taxes. How to use loan rates to find the best deal. Real life math.
What a concept. A class we can actually use in life.
I consider the three years I spent learning Algebra a total waste of my time and education dollar I wish I had had the opportunity to be learning something useful. People who like math are an arrogant bunch who like to make others suffer to make themselves feel better.