Algebra: Key to the Future
Linear equations and inverse functions......what do they have to do with anything and what are they? A growing chorus of educators, politicians and business leaders insist understanding those phrases will be crucial to our children's futures. Abstract math is not known for being a favorite activity for teenagers; however, algebra is viewed as increasingly essential for college or careers in a technology-based economy. Algebra is the new literacy.
So what are we to do as parents? We need to support math education. We need to be math literate ourselves so we can help them with their homework no matter how daunting a task that might seem. We need to explain to them that they might actually use algebra later in life. We need to help our children when they are younger beginning in first grade because math concepts build on each other. We need to help children from lower socio-economic areas because scores are lower for those from poor families. But problems aren't solely for those less fortunate, mathematical struggles and angst pervade society.
Why the angst for math? We live in a society that had a Barbie that said, "Math class is tough!" The last time the United States pushed math as essential to our national interests was in 1957 after the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik. We also used to have an attitude that math is for the geeks and brainiacs but now expectations are that ALL children should learn math. Every child should learn to think and algebra teaches that.
Why the motivation now? Well, jobs are being sent overseas or lost to technological innovation creating a situation where the middle-class positions in the work force will require higher math skills and higher education. Success will be based the ability to think critically, abstract thinking.
Which brings me back to algebra as the key to our children's future. Research shows that those who complete Algebra II are more than twice as likely to graduate from college as those who do not. They are also better positioned for admission to competitive colleges. And those who pursue advanced math are likely to have more career options. The National Science Board estimates that jobs in science, technology and engineering are growing at three times the rate of jobs overall. But many jobs in other fields rely on data analysis, which requires some algebraic skills.
So what are we to do as parents? We need to support math education. We need to be math literate ourselves so we can help them with their homework no matter how daunting a task that might seem. We need to explain to them that they might actually use algebra later in life. We need to help our children when they are younger beginning in first grade because math concepts build on each other. We need to help children from lower socio-economic areas because scores are lower for those from poor families. But problems aren't solely for those less fortunate, mathematical struggles and angst pervade society.
Why the angst for math? We live in a society that had a Barbie that said, "Math class is tough!" The last time the United States pushed math as essential to our national interests was in 1957 after the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik. We also used to have an attitude that math is for the geeks and brainiacs but now expectations are that ALL children should learn math. Every child should learn to think and algebra teaches that.
Why the motivation now? Well, jobs are being sent overseas or lost to technological innovation creating a situation where the middle-class positions in the work force will require higher math skills and higher education. Success will be based the ability to think critically, abstract thinking.
Which brings me back to algebra as the key to our children's future. Research shows that those who complete Algebra II are more than twice as likely to graduate from college as those who do not. They are also better positioned for admission to competitive colleges. And those who pursue advanced math are likely to have more career options. The National Science Board estimates that jobs in science, technology and engineering are growing at three times the rate of jobs overall. But many jobs in other fields rely on data analysis, which requires some algebraic skills.
Labels: Algebra Equals Success
posted by Susan's blog at
1:53 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home