BF2S Forums Is Algebra Necessary?

Ilocano wrote:

Macbeth wrote:

Ilocano wrote:

Algebra as difficult subject = discredits author.

Andrew Hacker (born 1929) is an American political scientist.

He is currently Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science at Queens College in New York. He did his undergraduate work at Amherst College. This was followed by graduate work at Oxford University, University of Michigan, and Princeton University where he received his PhD degree. Hacker taught at Cornell before taking his current position at Queens.

Princeton, Oxford, Amherst, Cornell hmmm obviously a moron.

Political Science PhD =/= math expert.





But in general, Political Science expert commenting on the need for Algebra. 

eleven bravo wrote:

derp derp engineering is the only thing that matters derp derp.  now lets talk about my incredibly strong opinions on political issues that i have no clue about

rdx-fx wrote:

You didn't pass algebra either, huh?

eleven bravo wrote:

did you not go to college?

rdx-fx wrote:

eleven bravo wrote:

derp derp engineering is the only thing that matters derp derp.  now lets talk about my incredibly strong opinions on political issues that i have no clue about

rdx-fx wrote:

You didn't pass algebra either, huh?

eleven bravo wrote:

did you not go to college?

Did Algebra in 7th or 8th grade.
In California, even!

eleven bravo wrote:

well you need to pass a college level math class in order to get your degree in california

eleven bravo wrote:

all degrees require to have at least one hist/polisci/speech ect class.  funny thing is all these math nerds thinking they know wtf they are talking about because they took a couple of classes and read a couple of wiki entries.

eleven bravo wrote:

all degrees require to have at least one hist/polisci/speech ect class.  funny thing is all these math nerds thinking they know wtf they are talking about because they took a couple of classes and read a couple of wiki entries.

eleven bravo wrote:

its like these math geeks equate the strength of their subjective opinions with the amount of thorough knowledge they have on a subject

Last edited by rdx-fx (2012-07-30 13:26:24)

Jay wrote:

Macbeth wrote:

I think our education system is just a little too rigid, still. Basic algebra is something everyone should be expected to learn, yes. But higher levels of math are worthless to you if you do not plan to go to college. Even if you do decide to go to college you probably won't need all that higher level math you were taught. I like how the universities treat math. You take your 2 or 3 mandatory math classes picked from a list of different subjects, levels, and topic and then go do whatever else you want. High schools requiring you to take 4 years of math, like I did, when you have no aspirations to be an engineer is silly. The higher levels math courses aren't even useful to some math orientated degree paths either. Accounting majors don't need, and won't be forced, to take high level math classes.

I'm not suggesting having a two tier high school education system that prepares some people for college and others for careers in grave digging. Instead of having a one size fits all everyone needs to take xyz classes, there should be more flexibility in what you have to study at the high school level. Colleges shouldn't (and to a part already don't, it is a mixed bag for better or for worse..) set the price of admission at 4 years of math, 2 years of a foreign language, etc. Students who are great at math can pack their high school schedule with math classes and when they apply to college the colleges judge them on how good their math grades are and if they could hang at the math heavy engineering, comp sci etc. classes. Someone who is creative can pack their day with classes having to do with art and the colleges judge them on those grades and if they are able to keep up with the BFA curriculum. Students who are interested in the social sciences can pack their day with classes in that field and be judged on those grades and if they could cut it in the social science programs. Of course they still have to take their 4 years of English, 1 or 2 of math/science/history but they have a lot more freedom.

As long as there is an opportunity to move from the math to art or art to math degree tracks during college (dependent on grades, classes, ability,) there shouldn't be problem. 

jay wrote:

They've already dumbed down the English side greatly by removing the spelling and grammar components because 'they were too hard'.

I think think your education may have be sub par.

Everyone is forced to take classes in college and high school that don't directly correlate with their field of study or have applications in the real world. Do I really need to know what occurred on July 1-3, 1863 or know who Telemachus was? No, not in the slightest, but someone somewhere decided that everyone that enters college should exit with at least the effort of creating a moderately well rounded scholar being made. A lot of people bitch about their non-core requirements, it's not unique to social science students and math classes.