Is algebra necessary for ALL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not so much that it's necessary for all, as that high school is really too early to determine whether it will be necessary or not.

Requiring students to study algebra helps keep their options open, particularly given the greater employment opportunities in STEM fields.

do you have any data to back up this statement?

STEM based jobs are real jobs not the fluff send an email a day be on dcum and fake manage people. You produce something not just some bull shit report that your manager reads.

You need algebra and higher for all STEM jobs .

[Anonymous]

Yes.

You need it to calculate interest rates, mortgages, retirement, student loans, car loans, and investments. Not to mention it helps with budgeting scenarios, credit card debt calculations, and... TAXES.

Guess what. It also helps you to make healthcare decisions as well for insurance calculations or chances of success/failures and such.

[Anonymous]

I use all kinds of math (algebra included) that I swore I would never have a need for when I was learning it in middle and high school. Some of this is at work (technically in a STEM field, but nothing crazy analytic) and some is just in day to day life. I would imagine anyone working in a project management capacity would benefit from basic knowledge of algebra (if budget = x, a's hourly rate = y, b's hourly rate = z, how can we best allocate our money?).

That's kind of beside the point though. The type of analytic thinking that algebra requires is valuable for students even if they never find themselves solving for x as an adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not so much that it's necessary for all, as that high school is really too early to determine whether it will be necessary or not.

Requiring students to study algebra helps keep their options open, particularly given the greater employment opportunities in STEM fields.

do you have any data to back up this statement?

STEM based jobs are real jobs not the fluff send an email a day be on dcum and fake manage people. You produce something not just some bull shit report that your manager reads.

You need algebra and higher for all STEM jobs .

Do you have any data to back up this statement? "given the greater employment opportunities in STEM fields"

What do you mean by greater employment opportunities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not so much that it's necessary for all, as that high school is really too early to determine whether it will be necessary or not.

Requiring students to study algebra helps keep their options open, particularly given the greater employment opportunities in STEM fields.

do you have any data to back up this statement?

STEM based jobs are real jobs not the fluff send an email a day be on dcum and fake manage people. You produce something not just some bull shit report that your manager reads.

You need algebra and higher for all STEM jobs .

So those of us who do not have STEM jobs are not in "real jobs"?

BTW: you seem a little hostile

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

You need it to calculate interest rates, mortgages, retirement, student loans, car loans, and investments. Not to mention it helps with budgeting scenarios, credit card debt calculations, and... TAXES

nope. you do not need algebra for any of the above.

[Anonymous]

A good friend of mine, who teaches technology to teachers, was watching my young son play with her iPad recently and said, "The jobs that these kids will have someday don't even exist yet."

But we do know that problem-solving, communication, critical thinking and logic will always be needed, so YES, algebra!

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's not so much that it's necessary for all, as that high school is really too early to determine whether it will be necessary or not.

Requiring students to study algebra helps keep their options open, particularly given the greater employment opportunities in STEM fields.[/quote]

do you have any data to back up this statement? [/quote]

STEM based jobs are real jobs not the fluff send an email a day be on dcum and fake manage people. You produce something not just some bull shit report that your manager reads.

You need algebra and higher for all STEM jobs .[/quote]

Do you have any data to back up this statement? "given the greater employment opportunities in STEM fields"

What do you mean by greater employment opportunities?[/quote]

Different poster, but I'll respond anyway. STEM fields are growing where other jobs are being cut back. If you want your kids to make a living wage, other than the traditional professions, STEM jobs will provide a solid future. There are shortages in STEM fields now, while other fields are flat or shrinking.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]STEM fields are growing where other jobs are being cut back. If you want your kids to make a living wage, other than the traditional professions, STEM jobs will provide a solid future. There are shortages in STEM fields now, while other fields are flat or shrinking.

[/quote]

Any data to support this?

[Anonymous]

New poster:

From the STEM career site:

“In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” (National Science Foundation)

http://stemcareer.com/why-stem/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster:

From the STEM career site:

“In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” (National Science Foundation)

http://stemcareer.com/why-stem/

That's not data, that's propaganda

[Anonymous]

Fastest growing occupations:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm

Lots of medical and health jobs, construction trades, also meeting planners, analysts and interpreters.

Highest paying: almost all science, also lawyers, judges and CEOS

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/highest-paying.htm

Most new jobs: mixed bag, heavy on health and lots of blue-collar
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/most-new-jobs.htm

[Anonymous]

Meeting planners

lol

My first job in the Washington area. I did not use algebra. But I did learn how to tip people.

[Anonymous]

algebra 1 is a good idea for most people. most folks don't really need most of algebra II for what they do in life, unless they are the 5% of the workforce in a STEM career.

i just finished writing a report on this topic and this is the conclusion many in education are coming to. there is alot of other math we breeze by (statistics, ratio, proportion, technical math) that alot more people need on a daily basis because we are rushing our kids to take algebra II, which really prepares you for calculus.

algebra II does serve as a proxy for good logics skills, etc...but so would a more useful math for most kids.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]STEM fields are growing where other jobs are being cut back. If you want your kids to make a living wage, other than the traditional professions, STEM jobs will provide a solid future. There are shortages in STEM fields now, while other fields are flat or shrinking.

[/quote]

Any data to support this?[/quote]

Actually, a Google search sends a more mixed message. Many sources point to a shortage of STEM professionals, while others refute that shortage. Here's one example: http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2020963312_edlazowskaopedxml.html. The story is entitled :Guest: STEM graduate shortage? Computer science is where the future jobs are." Nationwide there is a well-documented shortage of graduates in computer science, writes guest columnist Edward D. Lazowsk. He says that there isn't a shortage of STEM professionals, but that there is a shortage of computer science professionals. In his words, the field is "booming."