February 19, 2016
Honestly, I don't hate algebra. I've always been a logical person and have my favorite aspects of math that I can perform really well and apply to real life. However, I don't think it should be a requirement for anything as it does not engage the other types of thinking and abilities besides simple problem solving.
I think it's a bit of a reach when Arne Duncan claims "...algebra is a key, maybe the key, to success in college." This cannot possibly be true, as people go to college with the intent of studying things other than engineering or in the medical field. People have skills set in different areas and sometimes math is simply not a strength. Not being able to do algebra is not an indicator of your intelligence or overall ability as an individual in society.
However, I do agree with Duncan on the fact that algebra teaches logic and problem-solving because it honestly does. With so many different ways to solve an equation or make something equal something else is a direct test of how well you can fix a problem in a timely manner and while under pressure. Some people simply don't work well under pressure, and their own success in algebra can help them determine what kind of work environment they can handle and maintain. I know with my own math classes, it has showed me how to create alternatives to a problem and be able to apply mathematical rules to choose the best one. Because of this, it might have played a factor in my detailed thinking process before making a decision about serious matters.
As Wiggins points out explicitly, "You don't need algebra for a majority of jobs." And she's right. Everyone could honestly be able to get around and live safely with some basic arithmetic, and most people do, as they often forget how to do a majority of the higher level math problems that they learned in high school and college. If we want to reduce the stress of the average student, we should definitely make Algebra 2 an elective, and just have a class where the fundamentals of mathematics are introduced as a requirement. This way, students can decide if they are ready and/or more mathematically inclined and choose how much math they really want to learn going forward.
